metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite (River Pebble)
Quartzite (SiO2 with iron oxide impurities)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow-orange due to limonite/hematite staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular and crystalline; Fracture: Conchoidal to irregular.
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Yellow-orange due to limonite/hematite staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow-orange due to limonite/hematite staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular and crystalline; Fracture: Conchoidal to irregular.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under heat and pressure. This specific specimen is a water-worn pebble, likely tumbled in a river or stream bed over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Common varieties are used for construction aggregate, road ballast, and decor. Smooth pebbles like this are often used in landscaping, aquariums, or as pocket stones.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding softer rocks in a landscape, forming prominent ridges or lasting as indestructible river pebbles through several cycles of erosion.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of reaction to acid. It is commonly found in riverbanks and glacial deposits.
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