metamorphic
Quartzite with Quartz Veining
Meta-quartzite (composed primarily of SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Grayish-tan with white crystalline veins; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Non-foliated, granular; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Grayish-tan with white crystalline veins
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Grayish-tan with white crystalline veins; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Non-foliated, granular; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz-rich sandstone is subjected to intense heat and pressure during regional metamorphism. The white streaks are hydrothermal quartz veins filled during post-metamorphic fluid activity.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as crushed stone for road construction, railroad ballast, and occasionally as decorative stone or flooring due to its extreme durability.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts other rocks during weathering, frequently forming the tops of ridges and mountains. It is harder than steel.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its tendency to break across quartz grains rather than around them. Found globally in ancient mountain belts.
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