metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite (River Pebble)
Metamorphic Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow-orange to Tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Yellow-orange to Tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow-orange to Tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under heat and pressure, recrystallizing quartz grains. This specimen has been further shaped and smoothed by water transport in a river or coastal environment.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, construction aggregate, decorative river stone, and sometimes as a minor lapidary material for tumbling.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so durable that it can outlast the mountains it formed in, often remaining as rounded pebbles in younger sedimentary basins or riverbeds long after the original host rock has eroded.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and lack of reaction to acid. In the field, look for rounded, waxy-textured pebbles in fluvial deposits or garden landscaping mixes.
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