mineral

Quartz Pebbles

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent yellowish; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent yellowish
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified May 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent yellowish; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling magma in igneous veins or through hydrothermal activity. These specimens are water-worn river or beach pebbles, smoothed over long periods of transport.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used in glassmaking, electronics (oscillators), abrasives, and as decorative gravel. Smooth pebbles are often used in landscaping and aquarium decor.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. These specific rounded shapes indicate a 'clastic' history where the mineral was eroded from its source rock and transported by water.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass and lack of cleavage. Commonly found in riverbeds, beaches, and soil worldwide. Essential for beginning collectors to learn basic mineral hardness.