Quartzite River Pebbles

Physical Properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: tan, white, and creamy yellow (often stained by iron), Luster: dull to vitreous, Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture).

Formation & Geological History

Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. These individual specimens have been rounded and smoothed by fluvial (river) erosion over thousands of years.

Uses & Applications

Used primarily for landscaping, decorative garden stones, and as 'kindness rocks' for painting. Historically used for road ballast and high-silica industrial manufacturing.

Geological Facts

Quartzite is so hard that it will scratch glass and even steel. Water-worn pebbles like these are often found far from their original source, transported by ancient river systems.

Field Identification & Locations

Identify in the field by their extreme hardness, lack of visible grains (unlike sandstone), and smooth, rounded water-worn texture. Common in riverbeds and glacial deposits.

Identified on: 4/15/2026

Mode: Standard