metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Rock (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous to greasy luster, variable colors including white, gray, and yellow, with a non-foliated massive crystal structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous to greasy luster, variable colors including white, gray, and yellow, with a non-foliated massive crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed under high heat and pressure from quartz-rich sandstone, typically occurring in mountain-building belts over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction, railroad ballast, manufacturing of silica bricks, and occasionally as an ornamental stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, often forming prominent mountain ridges.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hard, interlocking quartz grains that break across rather than around the grains; found globally in ancient metamorphic terranes.
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