metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (primarily Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: yellowish-tan due to iron oxide impurities; Luster: vitreous to waxy when polished/tumbled; Crystal structure: trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: approx 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- yellowish-tan due to iron oxide impurities
- Luster
- vitreous to waxy when polished/tumbled
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: yellowish-tan due to iron oxide impurities; Luster: vitreous to waxy when polished/tumbled; Crystal structure: trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: approx 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under heat and pressure. This specific specimen is an 'alluvial pebble,' meaning it was further shaped and rounded by water transport in a river or beach environment over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, construction as crushed stone, and sometimes tumbled for aquarium decor or chakra/healing stones in the metaphysical community.
Geological facts
Quartzite is one of the hardest and most chemically resistant rocks found at the Earth's surface. Because of its durability, it often survives long-distance travel in rivers long after softer rocks have eroded into silt.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its rounded, water-worn texture. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial till, and coastal shorelines throughout the world.
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