metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to brownish-yellow; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular/gritty appearance; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Yellow to brownish-yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to brownish-yellow; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular/gritty appearance; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. High heat and pressure cause the individual sand grains to recrystallize and fuse together into a dense, crystalline rock.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone or decorative landscaping pebbles, as flux in metallurgy, and occasionally for making glass or coarse jewelry.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often breaks through the quartz grains rather than around them. It is one of the most chemically resistant rocks on the Earth's surface.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass and lack of reaction to acid. It is commonly found in mountain belts where sedimentary rocks were compressed.
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