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.
Is this quartzite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch quartzite with a known reference. Quartzite sits at Mohs 7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Quartzite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Quartzite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray, pink, red, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Quartzite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
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
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Construction, Decorative, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Terranes
- Typical price
- $1-20 for decorative slabs or landscaping specimens
Where rockhounds find quartzite
7 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- USA
- Brazil
- Norway
- Canada
- United Kingdom
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic terranes country — that is the host setting where quartzite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, muscovite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Wisconsin, California, New Mexico — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify quartzite?+
Where is quartzite found?+
Can I find quartzite in the United States?+
How much is quartzite worth?+
What rocks look like quartzite?+
What minerals are found with quartzite?+
What kind of rock does quartzite form in?+
What is quartzite used for?+
Find quartzite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
