Where is Quartzite found?
Metamorphic rock composed primarily of quartz
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Open the appQuartzite occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Quartzite
Appalachian Mountains, USA
Extensive quartzite formations, particularly in the Blue Ridge and Valley and Ridge provinces, such as the Erwin Quartzite and Weverton Quartzite.
Baraboo Range, Wisconsin, USA
Famous for its Precambrian Baraboo Quartzite, known for its distinctive purple-red color.
Scotland
Significant quartzite occurrences, including the Cambrian-age Eriboll Quartzite in the Northwest Highlands.
Brazil
Known for high-quality quartzite deposits, often used as dimension stone.
India
Various regions possess significant quartzite resources, utilized for construction and industrial purposes.
Collecting tips
- Look for outcrops in metamorphic terrains. Quartzite is a common rock in ancient mountain belts and areas that have undergone significant regional metamorphism.
- Test for hardness. Quartzite is extremely hard (Mohs 7). It will scratch glass and steel easily. A hammer blow will typically produce a conchoidal fracture rather than breaking along grain boundaries.
- Examine fresh breaks. Unlike sandstone, where grains tend to break apart, in quartzite, the fracture will cut through the quartz grains, creating a smooth, glassy surface.
- Check for sugary texture. The interlocking quartz grains often give quartzite a distinctive sugary or saccharoidal texture, especially on weathered surfaces.
Quick Check
- Color:
- White to light gray, various colors with impurities
- Luster:
- Vitreous to greasy
- Streak:
- White
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