Red quartzite is a metamorphic rock formed by the intense heat and pressure transformation of quartz-rich sandstone, characterized by its deep red color often caused by hematite inclusions. It is incredibly hard and durable, often showing a sugary, granular texture when broken that distinguishes it from smoother cherts or jaspers. Rockhounders typically find it in massive outcrops or as rounded cobbles in glacial deposits and river beds.
Is this red 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 red quartzite with a known reference. Red Quartzite sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the textureLook at a fresh break with a hand lens. Texture: Hard and non-foliated.
- 3Pick out the mineralsComposition: Metamorphosed quartz sandstone; pink and red shades come from hematite. Identify the two or three most abundant grains.
- 4Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 5Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, reddish-brown, pinkish-red.
Often confused with
Red Quartzite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Red Quartzite and waxy on Jasper.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Red Quartzite and dull on Red Sandstone.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Red Quartzite and dull on Rhyolite.
Often found alongside red quartzite
Minerals reported to co-occur with red 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
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Decorative, Lapidary, Construction
- Host rock
- metamorphic terranes
- Texture
- Hard and non-foliated
- Composition
- Metamorphosed quartz sandstone; pink and red shades come from hematite
Where rockhounds find red quartzite
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Baraboo Range, USA
- Lake Superior region, USA
- India
- Brazil
- South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: metamorphic terranes. If you start seeing quartz, hematite, mica in float, you are in the right ground. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in North Carolina, West Virginia. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find red quartzite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
