metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Recrystallized Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to tan/light gray, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to tan/light gray, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstones under intense heat and pressure. This specific specimen has been further shaped into a smooth pebble by fluvial or coastal water erosion.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone in landscaping, aquarium gravel, as a hard abrasive, and historically as a material for tool-making by ancient humans.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it will scratch glass and even high-quality steel. It is one of the most chemically and physically resistant rocks found on Earth's surface.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness and grainy but fused texture that breaks through the grains rather than around them. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and mountain ranges globally.
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