Would quartzite or sandstone break more easy?

Answer 1

A brittle material is one that fails by fracturing after only a very small amount of plastic strain has occurred. Sandstones tend to be made up of quartz and feldspars which are themselves brittle.

However sandstone and many other materials are only thought of as brittle because we are used to dealing or working with them at the pressure and temperature conditions present at the Earth's surface and can actually be either brittle or ductile (significant plastic deformation can occur before ultimate rupture) depending on the temperature, confining pressure and strain rate applied to it.

In general at low confining pressures and temperatures (i.e. near the Earth's surface), sandstone will fail in a brittle fashion. However as the temperature and or confining pressure increases it becomes increasingly ductile.

Answer 2

The fragility of minerals and gems and stones depends entirely on the atomic structure of the object. The more closely packed the atoms, the stronger the mineral. For example, diamond is the hardest mineral, and it has a very tightly packed atomic structure. Minerals like gold flake apart easily because the atoms are not packed so tightly.

Answer 3

Quartzite is generally harder and more resistant to breakage compared to sandstone. Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that has undergone high heat and pressure, making it more durable and less prone to fracturing. Sandstone, on the other hand, is a sedimentary rock that is softer and more easily eroded, making it more likely to break.

Answer 4

Yes, because sandstone is held together by weak bonds this causes it to break easily

Answer 5

sandstone

Answer 6

not sure