Describe how sandstone, a sedimentary rock, may become a metamorphic rock.

Describe what makes a diamond a mineral.

How does the arrangement of the atoms in a mineral relate to its properties?

Sandstone turns into a hard metamorphic rock called quartzite. Quartzite is formed when sandstone goes through metamorphosis under intense heat and pressure. Quartzite is mostly white or gray, and it breaks in even layers to reveal glassy surfaces with visible sand and quartz grains.

Each carbon atom in a diamond is surrounded by four other carbon atoms and connected to them by strong covalent bonds. This simple, uniform, tightly-bonded arrangement yields one of the most durable substances known.

The internal arrangement of atoms determines all the minerals' chemical and physical properties, including color.