mineral

Yellow Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-tan to honey; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy when tumbled; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Yellowish-tan to honey
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy when tumbled

Identified May 31, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-tan to honey; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy when tumbled; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or within igneous and metamorphic rocks. This specific specimen is a water-worn or tumbled pebble, shaped by erosion in a riverbed or coastal environment.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in landscaping, as decorative stones in aquariums, or as tumbled 'pocket stones' for crystal collecting and metaphysical purposes.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. When quartz is naturally yellow due to ferric impurities and heat, it is called Citrine, though this specimen is likely common stained quartz.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its hardness (it can scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and smooth, rounded water-worn texture. It is ubiquitous in gravel pits and along shorelines globally.