metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, composed primarily of interlocking quartz crystals with a massive or granular structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, composed primarily of interlocking quartz crystals with a massive or granular structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the intense heat and pressure metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone, typically in mountain-building or tectonic collision zones.
Uses & applications
Used extensively as dimensional stone in construction, decorative landscaping, road aggregate, and for making countertops.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to chemical weathering and erosion, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often survive as prominent mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel and the way it fractures across individual quartz grains rather than around them.
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