mineral
Milky Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Mohs hardness of 7, white to off-white opaque color, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture (no cleavage), specific gravity 2.65.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 7, white to off-white opaque color, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture (no cleavage), specific gravity 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or the cooling of igneous magma. These rounded pebbles are typically the result of fluvial or marine erosion over thousands of years as they are transported by water.
Uses & applications
Industrial use in glassmaking, as an abrasive, and in high-purity forms for electronics and solar panels. Common in landscaping and decorative gravel.
Geological facts
Quartz is the most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its characteristic white color from microscopic inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it can scratch glass and steel), absence of cleavage, and white opaque appearance. Extremely common in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits worldwide.
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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
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
![Biotite Schist (Biotite-rich Schist [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2]) — metamorphic](https://media.rock.id/9ca564b5-bc87-402b-965a-69b21f9aa6bf-thumbnail.jpg)
Biotite Schist
Biotite-rich Schist [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2]
metamorphic