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quartzite
quartzite usually metamorphic rock composed of firmly cemented quartz grains. Most often it is white, light gray, yellowish, or light brown, but is sometimes colored blue, green, purple, or black by included minerals. It results from the metamorphism of pure quartz sandstone . It is most easily distinguished from sandstone by the fact that it fractures across its constituent grains of sand, while sandstone fractures along the line of the cementing material between the grains of sand. Although most quartzites are metamorphic, some are sedimentary in origin, resulting from cementation of quartz sandstone by groundwater solutions containing pure quartz. |
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"quartzite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "quartzite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-quartzit.html "quartzite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-quartzit.html |
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quartzite
quartzite A metamorphic rock composed mainly of quartz and usually formed by the metamorphism of quartz sandstones. If deformation has accompanied metamorphism the individual quartz crystals are elongate and take on a preferred orientation, defining a planar or linear fabric within the rock. Unmetamorphosed sedimentary quartzites (sandstones with a quartz cement) are known as ‘orthoquartzites’ to distinguish them from metamorphic quartzites (metaquartzites).
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "quartzite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "quartzite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-quartzite.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "quartzite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-quartzite.html |
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quartzite
quartzite Metamorphic rock usually produced from sandstone, in which the quartz grains have recrystallized. Quartzite is a hard and massive rock. It is usually white, light grey, yellow or buff, but it can be coloured green, blue, purple, or black by various minerals.
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"quartzite." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "quartzite." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-quartzite.html "quartzite." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-quartzite.html |
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quartzite
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•transvestite • airtight • Hittite
•magnetite • appetite • stalactite
•watertight • Levite • Muscovite
•Hepplewhite • bobwhite
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Cite this article
"quartzite." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "quartzite." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-quartzite.html "quartzite." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-quartzite.html |
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