metamorphic
Red Quartzite Pebble
Meta-quartzite (SiO2 with Hematite inclusions)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs), Color: reddish-brown/maroon with white quartz veins, Luster: dull to vitreous, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture, Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Identified More metamorphic →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs), Color: reddish-brown/maroon with white quartz veins, Luster: dull to vitreous, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture, Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. High heat and pressure caused the original quartz grains to recrystallize. The red color is due to the presence of iron oxide (hematite). This pebble has been water-worn into a smooth shape.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as decorative landscaping stones, aquarium gravel, or polished for use in folk jewelry and lapidary practice. Industrially, crushed quartzite is used in road construction and as railway ballast.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so durable that it can outlast the mountains it belongs to, frequently appearing as rounded river pebbles far from its source. The white lines on this specimen are secondary quartz veins that filled cracks in the rock after it formed.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by steel) and lack of visible grains compared to sandstone. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and mountain ranges across North America and Europe.
More like this
