mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, white to translucent color, vitreous luster when broken, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65
Identified More mineral →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, white to translucent color, vitreous luster when broken, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed by the crystallization of magma or from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen has been smoothed and rounded by the mechanical action of water in a river or coastal environment.
Uses & applications
Major component in glass making, ceramics, and abrasives. High-quality quartz is used in jewelry and watches (piezoelectric properties). Pebbles like these are often used in decorative landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often remains as pebbles long after other minerals have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife (hardness test) and its lack of cleavage. It is found globally in almost all geological settings.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
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