metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite Pitting Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-tan to honey; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when weathered; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; No cleavage; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Yellowish-tan to honey
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy when weathered
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-tan to honey; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when weathered; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; No cleavage; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, recrystallizing quartz grains into a dense, interlocking mosaic. Often found as rounded pebbles in riverbeds or coastal deposits.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone, in industrial glass making, and as decorative landscaping stones or aquarium gravel.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding rocks during erosion, which is why it is frequently found as rounded pebbles in distant alluvial deposits.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass) and its sugary, granular texture that looks like sand but cannot be rubbed off. Common in glacial till and river basins worldwide.
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