mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs), Color: Translucent tan to pinkish-orange, Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered), Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Identified More mineral →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs), Color: Translucent tan to pinkish-orange, Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered), Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Quartz forms from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, likely million of years old, shaped by mechanical erosion in a fluvial or glacial environment.
Uses & applications
Industrial use in glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics (piezoelectric properties). Pebbles are often used in landscaping or as decorative aggregate.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. These rounded smooth shapes occur when rocks travel long distances in water, grinding against one another.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and soil. Common locations include high-energy water environments.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)
Metamorphic Rock
![Green Apatite on Albite (Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]) — mineral](https://media.rockidentification.com/2391a63f-fb20-47d5-af9a-2035851eb32e-thumbnail.jpg)
Green Apatite on Albite
Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]
mineral
Epidote
Epidote - Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)3(SiO4)3(OH)
mineral