mineral

White Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to milky; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when polished); Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 Mohs
Color: White to milky
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when polished)

Identified June 2, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to milky; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when polished); Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed via hydrothermal activity or the cooling of magma, specifically as milky quartz in veins. This specimen shows signs of alluvial weathering, having been rounded by water action in a river or beach environment.

Uses & applications

Used in construction as aggregate, as a source for silica in glassmaking, and frequently as decorative landscaping stone or tumbled pocket stones for collectors.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its white color from tiny bubbles of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and smooth, rounded surface indicating transport. Found globally in almost any riverbed, beach, or mountain trail.