metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness of 7, colors range from white to gray and brown, vitreous luster, granular crystal structure, and conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 7, colors range from white to gray and brown, vitreous luster, granular crystal structure, and conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth's crust.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction as crushed stone, railroad ballast, manufacturing of silica bricks, and occasionally as an ornamental dimension stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to weathering and erosion, which allows it to form prominent ridges and mountaintops.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its extreme hardness which can easily scratch glass and its inability to react with hydrochloric acid. Found globally in ancient mountain belts.
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