mineral

Quartz (River Pebble)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Creamy white to pale yellow; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when tumbled/weathered); Crystal structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Creamy white to pale yellow
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when tumbled/weathered)

Identified May 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, shaped by fluvial erosion over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as decorative stone or landscaping gravel.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. This specimen likely acquired its rounded shape and smooth texture from being tumbled in a riverbed or shoreline.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and smooth, rounded appearance if found near water. Common globally in almost all geological environments.