mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Tan, off-white, and semi-translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when wet/polished); Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Tan, off-white, and semi-translucent
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when wet/polished)

Identified June 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from hydrothermal veins or as a major constituent of igneous rocks. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, shaped by erosion over thousands of years as it was transported by water.

Uses & applications

Commonly used as abrasive blasting material, in glass manufacturing, as a decorative landscape garden stone, and as a popular find for beginner rockhounds.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'Quarz', which had its origins in Slavic and West Slavonic words meaning 'hard'.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of cleavage. Look for smooth, rounded textures in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till. Common worldwide.