|
Quartzite
The
parent rock for quartzite is quartz-rich sandstone. As sandstone
becomes deeply buried, rising temperature will fuse the quartz grains
together forming the extremely hard and weather-resistant rock
quartzite. Like marble, quartzite comes in many colors, but when pure
it is light-colored. Quartzite tends to have a sugary appearance, and
when broken the fractures cut through the sand grains, not around them
as with a sandstone.
Physical Properties of Quartzite
Physically, they are very Hard, Compact, Fine grained, equi-granular
homogeneous rocks of metamorphic nature (Quartzite).
| Color |
Minor color tonal variations exist but within the
tolerance limit. |
| Hardness |
6.5 to 7 on Moh's Scale |
| Density |
2.3 to 2.4 Kg/cm3 |
| Compressive Strength |
90 to 140 N/mm2 |
| Modulus of Rupture |
16-40 N/mm2 |
| Water Absorption |
1.0 - 1.2 % |
| Porosity |
Low to very low. |
| Weather Impact |
Resistant |
Chemical
Properties of Quartzite
Chemically they are very resistant Mono-Mineralic rocks, principally
composed of silica. The other minor constituents vary from origin to
origin.
| SiO2 |
95-97% |
| Iron (Fe2O3) |
0.5%-1.5% |
| Alumina (Al2O3) |
1 to 1.5% |
| Soda (Na2O) & Potash (Kro) |
Less then 1% |
| Lime (CaO) |
Less then 0.5% |
| Magnesia (MgO) |
Less then 0.5% |
| Loss On Ignition (LOI) |
Less then 0.5% |
They
are highly resistant to acids, alkalies and thermal impact.
Insolubility in acids and alkalies is about 97%.
Uses of Quartzite
- Usually
dyed to some pleasing color -- has been tumbled or otherwise
fashioned into decorative items.
- Quartzite
is the raw material for the glass and ceramics industries
Colour
of Quartzite
Texture
of Quartzite
Medium-grained; usually of a granoblastic texture
Occurances of Quartzite
| Italy |
Cuneo,
Piedmont Region, Snive Quarry, Robilante |
| Sweden |
Wasa Sten |
| Norway |
Austertena
(largest in world) |
|
