mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to creamy tan/orange due to iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to creamy tan/orange due to iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified February 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in veins or as a primary constituent in igneous rocks like granite. This specimen has been water-worn into a rounded pebble shape over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used industrially in glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics. Rounded river quartz is often used in landscaping, construction gravel, and as a tumbling media for rock collectors.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its opaque white appearance from microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during the crystal's growth.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage, and its translucent-to-opaque white appearance. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and mountain outcrops globally.

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