mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cream, white, or beige; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn); Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Cream, white, or beige
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn)

Identified June 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cream, white, or beige; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn); Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen has been rounded by mechanical erosion in a high-energy water environment like a river or beach.

Uses & applications

Common quartz pebbles are used as decorative garden mulch, in construction aggregates, and occasionally as tumbling rough for gemstone enthusiasts.

Geological facts

Quartz is the most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Small, rounded pebbles like this are indicators of ancient or current water transport over long distances.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits. Common in almost all geological settings.