Mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to translucent white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Tan to translucent white
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 8, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to translucent white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, shaped by transport in high-energy aquatic environments over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Common industrial uses include glassmaking and electronics. As a pebble, it is used for gravel, landscaping, and as a tumbling medium for lapidary hobbies.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Rounded river stones like this one were often used as ammunition for slings in ancient warfare.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and smooth, rounded water-worn texture. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits.