metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from white and gray to pink or brown, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains, no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from white and gray to pink or brown, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains, no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone or chert under high temperatures and tectonic pressures, typically over millions of years in mountain-building zones.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone for road bases, railway ballast, dimension stone, manufacturing refractory bricks, and occasionally as an ornamental decorative stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ancient sandstone ridges often weather into prominent quartzite mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its inability to be scratched by steel, its sugary texture on broken surfaces, and the fact that it breaks through the quartz grains rather than around them. Found globally.
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