quartzite

[ kwawrt-sahyt ]
/ ˈkwɔrt saɪt /

noun

a granular metamorphic rock consisting essentially of quartz in interlocking grains.

Origin of quartzite

First recorded in 1840–50; quartz + -ite1

OTHER WORDS FROM quartzite

quartz·it·ic [kwawrt-sit-ik] /kwɔrtˈsɪt ɪk/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for quartzite

British Dictionary definitions for quartzite

quartzite
/ (ˈkwɔːtsaɪt) /

noun

a very hard metamorphic rock consisting of a mosaic of intergrown quartz crystals
a white or grey sandstone composed of quartz

Scientific definitions for quartzite

quartzite
[ kwôrtsīt′ ]

A metamorphic rock consisting entirely of quartz. Quartzite forms when sandstone or chert are heated during metamorphism.