metamorphic
Quartzite
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Grayish-white with tan/yellow iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Non-foliated, granular; Specific gravity: approx. 2.6
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Grayish-white with tan/yellow iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Grayish-white with tan/yellow iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Non-foliated, granular; Specific gravity: approx. 2.6
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure, typically during mountain-building events. This specimen is water-worn, likely from a riverbed or glacial deposit.
Uses & applications
Used as crushed stone for road construction, railroad ballast, and as a decorative stone in landscaping or as building veneers.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it can scratch glass and steel. It is more durable and resistant to chemical weathering than the sandstone from which it originated.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (cannot be scratched by a knife) and its grainy, crystalline texture that breaks through the grains rather than around them. Common in metamorphic belts and glacial till.
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