metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite (River Pebble)
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow to honey-gold (due to iron inclusions); Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None; Fracture: Conchoidal to splintery.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Yellow to honey-gold (due to iron inclusions)
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow to honey-gold (due to iron inclusions); Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None; Fracture: Conchoidal to splintery.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specific specimen shows rounding ('river cobble' shape) due to mechanical weathering and transport in a fluvial or glacial environment.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative landscaping stones, road ballast, crushed stone for construction, and occasionally for lapidary work like tumbling if the color is vibrant.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the original bedrock it came from, ending up as rounded pebbles in riverbeds thousands of miles from its source. It is harder and more durable than most rocks.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and lack of reaction to acid. In the field, look for a sugary or granular appearance where the rock has fractured. Commonly found in riverbeds, old glacial tills, and mountainous regions.
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