Where is Quartzite found?
Metamorphic rock, primarily composed 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 Formation.
Baraboo Range, Wisconsin, USA
Famous for its Precambrian Baraboo Quartzite, known for its distinctive purple-red color.
Scotland
Significant quartzite occurrences in the Scottish Highlands, including the Cambrian-age Eriboll Quartzite.
Brazil
Large deposits of high-quality quartzite, particularly in Minas Gerais, used extensively for dimension stone.
India
Widespread quartzite deposits across various states, utilized for construction and industrial purposes.
Canada
Found in various Precambrian shield areas, such as the Canadian Shield, often associated with ancient orogenic belts.
Collecting tips
- Look for outcrops in ancient mountain belts. Quartzite is a product of regional metamorphism, so it is commonly found in areas that have undergone significant tectonic activity and mountain building.
- Test for hardness. Quartzite is very hard (Mohs 7). It will scratch glass and steel. This helps distinguish it from softer rocks.
- Examine fracture pattern. Unlike sandstone, which tends to break around individual sand grains, quartzite breaks through the grains, resulting in a smooth, conchoidal, or splintery fracture surface.
- Check for sugary texture and interlocking grains. Under magnification, the recrystallized, interlocking quartz grains give quartzite a characteristic sugary appearance, without the distinct clastic grains of sandstone.
- Observe resistance to weathering. Quartzite is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering, often forming prominent ridges and peaks in landscapes where surrounding softer rocks have eroded away.
Quick Check
- Color:
- White, gray, pink, red, yellow, green, blue
- Luster:
- Vitreous to greasy
- Streak:
- White (as it is composed primarily of quartz)
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