metamorphic
Red Quartzite
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Reddish-brown to maroon; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Reddish-brown to maroon
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Reddish-brown to maroon; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone. High heat and pressure causes recrystallization where quartz grains fuse together. Many deposits date back to the Proterozoic or Paleozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative stone, in construction as road ballast or railroad beds, and historically for stone tools due to its hardness and conchoidal fracture.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it will scratch glass easily. It is often mistake for jasper, but quartzite has a more distinct granular texture when viewed closely.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness and sandy, crystalline texture that breaks across individual grains rather than around them. Found globally in mountainous or metamorphic terranes.
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