metamorphic
White quartz-rich rock, likely quartzite or milky quartz fragment
Quartzite; predominantly quartz (SiO₂), possibly with minor feldspar or mica
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness about 7 Mohs; white to gray, vitreous to sugary luster, massive granular texture, and no obvious cleavage. It should scratch glass and commonly breaks irregularly or conchoidally; the fragment appears weathered and somewhat foliated, so identification is not definitive from the image alone.
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Physical properties
Hardness about 7 Mohs; white to gray, vitreous to sugary luster, massive granular texture, and no obvious cleavage. It should scratch glass and commonly breaks irregularly or conchoidally; the fragment appears weathered and somewhat foliated, so identification is not definitive from the image alone.
Formation & geological history
Quartzite forms when quartz-rich sandstone is recrystallized under heat and pressure during metamorphism, commonly during mountain-building; its age depends on the original sandstone and metamorphic event. If instead massive milky quartz, it formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids filling fractures.
Uses & applications
Used as crushed stone, aggregate, landscaping material, and durable building stone; attractive material may be cut or polished, though this specimen appears ordinary and non-gem quality.
Geological facts
Quartzite is generally tougher and more interlocked than sandstone, while milky quartz commonly contains microscopic fluid inclusions that scatter light.
Field identification & locations
Look for a sugary, fused quartz texture, lack of visible sand grains, and resistance to scratching; acid produces no reaction. Common in metamorphic mountain belts and quartz-rich gravel deposits.
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