metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Arenite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, pink to orange color from iron oxide impurities, vitreous to greasy luster, and a non-foliated, granular crystal structure with no cleavage.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Quartzite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, pink to orange color from iron oxide impurities, vitreous to greasy luster, and a non-foliated, granular crystal structure with no cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high heat and pressure, typically in mountain-building or tectonic compression zones.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone, railroad ballast, dimension stone, and occasionally for decorative landscaping or cabochons.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to weathering and erosion, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often persist as high mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its fused quartz grain texture that breaks across grains rather than around them.
More like this
