quartzite

noun quartz·ite \ ˈkwȯrt-ˌsīt \

|Updated on: 26 Jun 2018

Definition of quartzite

: a compact granular rock composed of quartz and derived from sandstone by metamorphism

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quartzitic

play \kwȯrt-ˈsi-tik\ adjective

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Recent Examples of quartzite from the Web

Summer brings crowds to the sandy beach along the lake and the stair-like trails up the bluffs, where rock climbers attempt to send routes on the slick quartzite.

— chelsey lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin bucket list: 20 things you have to do," 17 May 2018
Trails wind around the top and sides of the 1.5-billion-year-old quartzite, and a 60-foot observation tower provides views from above the tree canopy.

— chelsey lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "4 dining destinations in Wisconsin worth a road trip," 16 May 2018
For the thrill-seeker, have a seat at the edge of the thin ledge extending out from the quartzite and sandstone promitory forming the lookout and extend your feet into the abyss.

— michael j. bailey, BostonGlobe.com, "McAfee Knob will get your heart pumping," 9 May 2018
The researchers suspect that additional ghost signals may have come from Tut's massive quartzite sarcophagus, which takes up much of the central burial chamber.

— National Geographic, "It’s Official: Tut’s Tomb Has No Hidden Chambers After All," 6 May 2018
Another 26 million Swiss francs were spent to install the new Sechseläutenplatz, a spacious lakefront plaza made with slabs of sparkling Vals quartzite.

— adam h. graham, Condé Nast Traveler, "Plan a Trip to Zurich This Summer (Yes, Really)," 2 May 2018
But many items do remain in Egypt, including the mummy of the 19-year-old ruler, the quartzite sarcophagus with granite lid, the gilded wooden outer coffin and a series of wall paintings.

— jessica gelt, latimes.com, "King Tut gets a remodel: How conservators are trying to protect the tomb from tourists," 28 Mar. 2018
Solar energy, for instance, still primarily uses silicon technology, for which the major raw material is the rock quartzite.

— andrew barron, Smithsonian, "The Countries Poised To Become “Renewable Superpowers”," 20 Feb. 2018
Partly that's because the river carried great heaps of quartzite rocks and pebbles to the area.

— annalee newitz, Ars Technica, "Ancient tools found in India undermine the “out of Africa” hypothesis," 31 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'quartzite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.