Talk:Quartzite

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The article is deficient in that it alludes to sedimentary sandstones (second paragraph at the time this comment was written), but "sedimentary" quartzite contradicts the first (incorrect) statement in the article stating that quartzites are metamorphic rocks. While they are most commonly metamorphic rocks, it is incorrect to say all quartzites are metamorphic.

The precise test of whether rocks that superficially resemble quartzite should be so classified, is whether the rock breaks across grains or around them. That is, when a quartzite is broken the grains or crystals of quartz will break. When a quartz rich sandstone is broken, the individual grains of sand will not break; instead the fracture will pass around the grains breaking the material cementing them together. Highly indurated quarts rich sandstones may become so strongly cemented that they are no longer properly classified as sandstone and should instead be referred to as quartzite -- despite the fact that no metamporphism has taken place.

I think that whoever wrote this winkipedia article needs to go back to grammar school for spelling class as they obviously cannot spell and then take a basic geology class. This person does not recognize that in a true quartzite the silica grains and associated silica cementation merge in crystallographic continuity and the original sandstone texture is completely destroyed. It is impossible to break grains that no longer exist. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.197.12.213 (talk) 19:17, 2 January 2008 (UTC)


 * I agree about the confusing lead. Not so sure about the requirement for complete loss of the original texture. Sure, the rock won't break around the grains anymore, but in thin section the original grains are likely recognisable due to original grain coatings. My main problem with this article as it stands is it seems that quartzite only occurs in the USA. I'm adding this to my 'to do' list. Mikenorton (talk) 09:14, 16 April 2008 (UTC)

Railway ballast importance
I'm restoring the relative importance of quartzite's use as a railway ballast that was changed in a Sept. 2009 edit. The author of the reference (name=MII) had data that supports that most crushed stone was not quartzite, and crushed quartzite was small part of construction use. These I don't question. But, it does NOT follow that the use of quarzite for railway ballast is a small use of crushed quartzite. Other sources indicate it is the major use of quartzite. The author of the reference does not directly address its use as railway ballast. --Aflafla1 (talk) 00:41, 5 July 2011 (UTC)

Quartzite quarry in Bethesda, Md.
A mica-schist quartzite, with horizontal and vertical cleavage, is quarried in the Bethesda, Maryland area where it forms a substrate to many suburban backyards. So it must be found substantially south of Pennsylvania and east of the Appalachians, though I have no reference for this other than my son-in-law wrestling tons of the stuff out of his back yard to build a retaining wall. Can anyone find a reference? -- Craig Goodrich 143.127.128.10 (talk) 21:56, 26 November 2011 (UTC)
 * OK what I reverted was an advert but that's not what's here now, no idea what's going on, so sorry about that. No luck with a reference so far though. Mikenorton (talk) 22:11, 26 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Mike, what I originally entered wasn't intended as an advert but when I saw your reversion I realized that it could be interpreted that way (I have absolutely no interest, financial or otherwise, in the quarrying company), though I put it in solely as confirmation of the quarry's existence. So I rewrote the section.  Haven't had time to check the refs yet, but thanks for finding them. -- Craig 216.10.193.23 (talk) 12:16, 28 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the clarification Craig, I thought I was losing it back there. Mikenorton (talk) 12:24, 28 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Here is a geological map of Montgomery County, although I'm not sure how helpful it is. Mikenorton (talk) 22:14, 26 November 2011 (UTC)
 * And here are links to interactive USGS maps of both Maryland and Virginia, but I'm still not sure that they help. Mikenorton (talk) 22:30, 26 November 2011 (UTC)

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Use in ancient statues
It was also used in ancient statues:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcAa-d8qL-4

Family Guy Guy (talk) 18:13, 3 November 2015 (UTC)

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External links modified (January 2018)
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Quartzite geomorphology
The lead mentions (probably correctly, though sourcing is needed) that quartzite tends to be a ridge-forming rock with poor soil development, with some exceptions. This is fine so far as it goes, but it needs to be amplified in the body of the article (perhaps under Occurrences) with suitable sourcing. I'll do what I can for it when I'm not so crazy busy, if no other editor has picked it up by then. Kent G. Budge (talk) 22:32, 31 July 2022 (UTC)

Chlorite link
The link to chlorite links to the chlorite ion, not the mineral chlorite. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.74.245.43 (talk) 20:40, 14 December 2023 (UTC)


 * Fixed - thanks for pointing that out. Mikenorton (talk) 20:48, 14 December 2023 (UTC)