metamorphic
Weathered, iron-stained quartzite pebble
Quartzite; predominantly microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂) with iron-oxide staining
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness about 7 Mohs; rounded, tan to cream with reddish-brown patches, dull to weakly vitreous luster, and no obvious cleavage. Dense and fine-grained, with possible sugary quartz texture; the surface appears naturally weathered rather than polished.
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Physical properties
Hardness about 7 Mohs; rounded, tan to cream with reddish-brown patches, dull to weakly vitreous luster, and no obvious cleavage. Dense and fine-grained, with possible sugary quartz texture; the surface appears naturally weathered rather than polished.
Formation & geological history
Quartzite forms when quartz-rich sandstone is recrystallized during regional metamorphism, commonly during Precambrian to younger mountain-building events. This pebble was likely eroded from resistant bedrock and rounded by stream or beach transport.
Uses & applications
Common quartzite is used as aggregate, road stone, riprap, building stone, and occasionally decorative stone; this small specimen has mainly educational or collecting value.
Geological facts
Iron oxides such as hematite and goethite produce the orange-brown coloration. Quartzite is typically harder and more resistant to weathering than its sandstone precursor.
Field identification & locations
Likely quartzite if it scratches ordinary glass and shows fused quartz grains rather than sand grains; it should not fizz with dilute hydrochloric acid. Common in stream gravels and quartzite-bearing mountain regions worldwide.
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