mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to creamy white (milky quartz); Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: White to creamy white (milky quartz)
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 6, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to creamy white (milky quartz); Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or within igneous and metamorphic rocks. This specific specimen has been rounded and smoothed by water erosion (fluvial or beach action) over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used in landscaping, as a gemstone component in tumble-polished jewelry, in glass manufacturing, and as a source of high-purity silica for the electronics industry.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. Its white color comes from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass and steel), its lack of cleavage, and its smooth, water-worn texture if found in riverbeds. It is found globally in almost all geological environments.