mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs); Color: Milky white to translucent with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs)
- Color
- Milky white to translucent with iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs); Color: Milky white to translucent with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is likely a water-worn river pebble, shaped by erosion over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Raw industrial quartz is used in glassmaking and electronics. As a tumbled pebble, it is used for landscaping, aquarium gravel, and as a common collectible for beginners.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'quarz', which has Slavic origins meaning 'hard'.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Look for smooth, rounded textures in stream beds, beaches, or glacial till.
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Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)
Metamorphic Rock
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Biotite Schist
Biotite-rich Schist [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2]
metamorphic
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Green Apatite on Albite
Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]
mineral