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Quartzite identification and geology

A hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock composed almost entirely of recrystallized quartz, formed by the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. True quartzite metaquartzite has interlocking quartz grains that fracture through the grains rather than around them, distinguishing it from orthoquartzite a sedimentary sandstone cemented by silica, which fractures around grains . Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to weathering. Field: petrology. Example: The Tuscarora quartzite forms the resistant ridge crests of the Appalachian Valley and Ridge Province, standing as prominent ridges while the less-resistant shales and limestones between them weather into valleys.. Related terms: Sandstone, Quartz, Metamorphism, Non-foliated.

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

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GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.055955+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Quartzite mean in geology?
A hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock composed almost entirely of recrystallized quartz, formed by the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. True quartzite metaquartzite has interlocking quartz grains that fracture through the grains rather than around them, distinguishing it from orthoquartzite a sedimentary sandstone cemented by silica, which fractures around grains . Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to weathering.
What is an example of Quartzite?
The Tuscarora quartzite forms the resistant ridge crests of the Appalachian Valley and Ridge Province, standing as prominent ridges while the less-resistant shales and limestones between them weather into valleys.
Which earth-science field uses the term Quartzite?
Quartzite is used in petrology.
Which terms are related to Quartzite?
Related terms in this reference are Sandstone, Quartz, Metamorphism, Non-foliated.

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