Quartzite with Sandstone/Siltstone matrix

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: tan, grey, yellow-brown, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: None/Conchoidal

Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. High heat and pressure compressed the original sand grains and silica cement into a dense, crystalline structure. Often found in ancient mountain belts and glacial deposits.

Primarily used as crushed stone for road construction, railway ballast, and occasionally as a decorative landscape stone or building facade.

Quartzite is so durable that it often survives intense weathering that destroys other rocks, leading it to form prominent ridges and peaks in mountain ranges.

Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its grainy but fused texture. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and mountainous outcrops. This specimen appears to be a water-worn river cobble showing a contact zone.