mineral

Beach Agate / Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Translucent grayish-white with faint internal banding or cloudiness. Luster: Waxy to vitreous. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified July 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Translucent grayish-white with faint internal banding or cloudiness. Luster: Waxy to vitreous. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed via secondary silica deposition in volcanic cavity voids or sedimentary environments, subsequently eroded, rounded, and polished by ocean waves and river action over thousands to millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used in lapidary arts, jewelry making, tumbling, decor, and popular as beachcombing collector pieces.

Geological facts

Beach-tumbled agates and quartz pebbles owe their smooth texture and rounded shapes to constant grinding against sand and water along coastlines.

Field identification & locations

Look for a translucent or semi-translucent quality when held up to a light source, often with sub-conchoidal fractures or faint banding patterns. Abundant along coastal beaches, gravel bars, and riverbeds.