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Chromium Quartzite Cabochons
Quartzite is a hard, metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Through heating and pressure usually
related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts, the original quartz sand grains and quartz silica cement were fused
into one. Pure quartzite is usually white to grey. Quartzites often occur in various shades of pink and red due to varying
amounts of iron oxide. Other colors are due to impurities of minor amounts of other minerals. This material is uncommon in
the area where I live and can sometimes be found as alluvial deposits in gravel pits through out the area. It has
been colored a beautiful green by the inclusion of chromium and resembles aventurine, although not all of it has the
sparkle caused by mica that aventurine is known for.
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This is a really nice sparkly free-form cab that I cut from material found in Iron Mountain, Mi. Approx. size:
10x15 Weight: 3.15 cts.
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