metamorphic
Quartzite with Quartz Vein
Metamorphosed sandstone (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to light brown with clear/white quartz sections; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (hexagonal in veins); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Tan to light brown with clear/white quartz sections
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to light brown with clear/white quartz sections; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (hexagonal in veins); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure. The white band represents a hydrothermal quartz vein where silica-rich fluids crystallized in a fracture.
Uses & applications
Used in construction for road ballast, as a building stone, and occasionally in glass manufacturing if pure; collector value for interesting geological structures.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often breaks through the individual quartz grains rather than around them. It is one of the most durable and weather-resistant rocks on Earth.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel and its granular, sugary texture. Often found in mountainous regions or ancient cratons.
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