mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to translucent/milky, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to translucent/milky, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal systems or igneous intrusions; this specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, likely polished by alluvial erosion over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, grit for abrasives, as decorative landscaping stone, and occasionally in jewelry for cabochons or tumbled stones.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is piezoelectric, meaning it generates an electrical charge when mechanical pressure is applied.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Look for smooth, rounded textures in riverbeds, beaches, or glacial till deposits.
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Epidote
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Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)
Metamorphic Rock
![Biotite Schist (Biotite-rich Schist [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2]) — metamorphic](https://media.rock.id/9ca564b5-bc87-402b-965a-69b21f9aa6bf-thumbnail.jpg)
Biotite Schist
Biotite-rich Schist [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2]
metamorphic