metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Sandstone
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to grey color, vitreous luster, and a non-foliated crystalline structure with conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to grey color, vitreous luster, and a non-foliated crystalline structure with conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and tectonic pressure, typically over hundreds of millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, railroad ballast, decorative aggregate, and occasionally for manufactured dimension stone or countertops.
Geological facts
Quartzite is exceptionally resistant to weathering and erosion, which explains why quartz-rich ridges often form prominent mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel blade and its failure to effervesce with hydrochloric acid; commonly found globally in ancient mountain belts.
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