mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Clear to translucent milky white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Clear to translucent milky white
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn)

Identified June 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed via cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. This specimen is a water-worn river or beach pebble, smoothed by mechanical erosion over hundreds to thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Industrial use in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as a gemstone or decorative aggregate in landscaping.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often survives as pebbles long after other minerals have disintegrated.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and translucent appearance. Commonly found in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits worldwide.