metamorphic
Quartzite
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, gray, or yellow; Luster: vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: hexagonal (macro-crystalline); Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- typically white, gray, or yellow
- Luster
- vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, gray, or yellow; Luster: vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: hexagonal (macro-crystalline); Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, typically during tectonic plate movements.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative stone in construction, flooring, countertops, and as crushed stone for roadbeds and railway ballast.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it can scratch steel and glass. It is often more resistant to weathering than the surrounding rock, often forming prominent ridges and hills.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness and grainy texture that breaks through the grains rather than around them. Found globally in mountainous regions.
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