metamorphic
Quartzite with inclusions
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2 with accessory minerals)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: translucent white to grey-green with dark bands, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Structure: Granular/Massive, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: translucent white to grey-green with dark bands, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Structure: Granular/Massive, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. The dark banding suggests presence of lithic fragments or heavy minerals from the original parent rock.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as road ballast, decorative stone, and sometimes as a source of silica for glass making.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often survives intense weathering and erosion better than the rocks surrounding it, making it common in river gravels and on hilltops.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass and lack of reaction to acid. Commonly found in ancient mountain belts and glacial till. Collectors value smooth, water-worn specimens.
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