Quartzite is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock that was originally pure quartz sandstone. It is characterized by its granular, sugary texture and a tendency to fracture across grain boundaries rather than around them, distinguishing it from sandstone.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Transparency

Translucent

metamorphiccommon

Quartzite

Hardness: 7
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Translucent

Is this quartzite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch quartzite with a known reference. Quartzite sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Read the texture
Look at a fresh break with a hand lens. Texture: Hard and non-foliated.
3
Pick out the minerals
Composition: Originally pure quartz sandstone; nearly pure silica. Identify the two or three most abundant grains.
4
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
5
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: white, gray, pink, red, yellow.

Often confused with

Quartzite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

metamorphic

Marble

Mohs 3-4

How to tell apart: Quartzite is noticeably harder (Mohs 7 vs. 3-4); luster reads vitreous on Quartzite and subvitreous on Marble.

Often found alongside quartzite

Minerals reported to co-occur with quartzite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Mohs hardness: 7
Density: 2.6-2.7 g/cm³
Colors: White Gray Pink Red Yellow
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Translucent
Rarity: Common
Uses: Construction, Decorative, Lapidary
Host rock: metamorphic terranes
Texture: Hard and non-foliated
Composition: Originally pure quartz sandstone; nearly pure silica

Where rockhounds find quartzite

7 mapped spots

Classic worldwide localities

USA
Brazil
Norway
Canada
United Kingdom

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: metamorphic terranes. If you start seeing quartz, muscovite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Wisconsin, California, New Mexico. Start trip planning there.

Browse 7 U.S. spots for quartzite →

More quartzite photos

Common questions

How do you identify quartzite?+

Mohs hardness is 7. Texture: Hard and non-foliated. Composition: Originally pure quartz sandstone; nearly pure silica. Luster: vitreous. Common colors include white, gray, pink, red.

Where is quartzite found?+

Notable localities include USA; Brazil; Norway; Canada; United Kingdom.

Can I find quartzite in the United States?+

RockHoundR maps 7 quartzite rockhounding spots across 5 U.S. states. The top states are Wisconsin, California, New Mexico.

What rocks look like quartzite?+

Quartzite is most often confused with Marble, Quartz. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with quartzite?+

Quartzite commonly co-occurs with quartz, muscovite, hematite, magnetite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does quartzite form in?+

Where it forms: metamorphic terranes. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is quartzite used for?+

Quartzite is used in construction, decorative, lapidary.

Find quartzite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.