metamorphic
Pink Quartzite
Silica (SiO2) - Metamorphic rock
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pink to reddish-orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.63–2.65
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Pink to reddish-orange
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pink to reddish-orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.63–2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz-rich sandstone is subjected to intense heat and pressure (metamorphism). The pink hue is typically caused by trace amounts of iron oxides (hematite).
Uses & applications
Used frequently in construction as road ballast, decorative garden stones, floor tiles, and as a raw material for glass manufacturing and silicon production.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it usually breaks across the quartz grains rather than along their boundaries, unlike the sandstone from which it originated.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by steel) and sandy but fused appearance. Commonly found in folded mountain belts and ancient shield areas.
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