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).