mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent with iron staining (yellowish/pinkish patches); Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal (though water-worn into an oval/ellipsoid shape); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified March 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes in veins or as a late-crystallization mineral in igneous rocks. This specific specimen has been chemically and physically weathered, likely transported by water (fluvial or beach action) over thousands of years to reach its smooth, rounded state.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as decorative stone in landscaping. High-quality smooth pebbles are often used in massage therapy (river rocks) or as 'worry stones'.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth\'s continental crust. Because it is chemically stable and very hard, it remains intact after other minerals have weathered away, which is why quartz is the primary component of most beach sand.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife (it will scratch glass) and its lack of cleavage (it breaks with a conchoidal/shell-like fracture). It is ubiquitous in riverbeds, beaches, and glaciated regions globally.