metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite River Pebbles
Metamorphic Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide inclusions
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, tan, orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Fine-grained, smooth from water erosion; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Yellow, tan, orange
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Yellow Quartzite River Pebbles in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, tan, orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Fine-grained, smooth from water erosion; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. These specific specimens were smoothed by fluvial (river) or coastal water action over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in landscaping, decorative river rock arrangements, aquarium substrates, and occasionally polished for crafts/vases.
Geological facts
Quartzite is often harder than the sandstone from which it formed. The yellow coloration is typically due to the presence of limonite or goethite (iron oxides) staining the quartz grains.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of reaction to acid. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and along coastlines globally.
More like this
