metamorphic

Weathered quartz-rich pebble (probable quartzite or quartz vein material)

Quartzite, predominantly SiO₂ (identification provisional)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small rounded pebble with cream, tan, orange, and gray mottling; dull to slightly waxy luster and no visible cleavage. Quartzite is mostly interlocking quartz, Mohs hardness about 7, and typically has specific gravity near 2.65; iron-oxide staining likely produces the orange color.

Identified September 13, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Most likely a glacially transported and weathered fragment derived from quartz-rich metamorphic or vein rock. Around 43.0°N, 77.1°W (western New York), glacial sediments commonly contain transported quartzite, quartz, and other Canadian Shield erratics; exact age cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Primarily a curiosity or teaching/collecting specimen; quartzite can be used as aggregate, riprap, building stone, and occasionally decorative stone.

Geological facts

The rounded shape indicates abrasion during transport, probably by glacial or stream action. Orange patches commonly reflect hematite or limonite coatings and do not necessarily indicate a separate mineral.

Field identification & locations

A glass-scratch test can help: quartzite should scratch ordinary glass, while a steel nail should not scratch it. A streak test, specific-gravity measurement, and close inspection of a broken surface would distinguish quartzite from quartz, chert, or feldspathic granite.