metamorphic
Quartzite pebble
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to light gray with dark inclusions; Luster: vitreous to dull when weathered; Structure: granular/crystalline texture; Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- white to light gray with dark inclusions
- Luster
- vitreous to dull when weathered
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to light gray with dark inclusions; Luster: vitreous to dull when weathered; Structure: granular/crystalline texture; Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high heat and pressure, typically during mountain-building events. This specimen has been rounded into a pebble by water erosion (fluvial or beach action).
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone, in glass manufacturing if pure, and as decorative landscape gravel or polished stones for aquarium and craft use.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the mountains it comes from, remaining as durable boulders or pebbles long after the surrounding rock has eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (it will easily scratch glass) and its sugary, crystalline surface. Common in river beds and beaches near metamorphic mountain ranges.
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