mineral

Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, translucent, or light gray; Luster: Vitreous/glassy; Structure: Hexagonal crystal system (macro-crystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: White, translucent, or light gray
Luster: Vitreous/glassy

Identified March 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the crystallization of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal fluids. This specific rounded specimen was shaped by river or glacial erosion, typically occurring over thousands to millions of years during the Phanerozoic eon.

Uses & applications

Industrial uses include glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), and as an abrasive. In pebble form, it is used for gravel, landscaping, and sometimes as a tumbled stone for collecting or decorative vases.

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 a pebble long after other minerals in a parent rock have eroded away.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it should easily scratch glass) and lack of cleavage (breaks like glass into curved surfaces). Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits. Collectors should look for smoothness and internal clarity.