metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Arenite
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale, Color: typically white to gray but can be pink, red, or brown due to iron oxides, Luster: vitreous to greasy on fresh surfaces, Crystal Structure: interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals, Cleavage: none, Specific Gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale, Color: typically white to gray but can be pink, red, or brown due to iron oxides, Luster: vitreous to greasy on fresh surfaces, Crystal Structure: interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals, Cleavage: none, Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert that has been subjected to high heat and pressure, usually through regional metamorphism during mountain-building events.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as crushed stone for roadbeds, railway ballast, manufacturing of silica bricks, and occasionally as decorative stone or countertops.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often persist as high mountain crests or hills.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its sugary texture of interlocking quartz grains, a hardness that easily scratches glass, and the fact that it breaks across the quartz grains rather than around them (unlike sandstone).
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