Mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cream, tan, or milky white; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline in pebbles); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Cream, tan, or milky white
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified June 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cream, tan, or milky white; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline in pebbles); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed via igneous processes or hydrothermal veins, later eroded and rounded by water action in rivers or coastal environments. Quartz can be found in rocks from almost any geological era.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics, as an abrasive, in construction aggregates, and as tumbled stones for decorative use or jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Rounded pebbles like this one are often referred to as 'river stones' and have been smoothed over thousands of years by water transport.