mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Tan to light brown (iron-stained); Luster: Vitreous/Waxy (dulled by water wear); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal; SG: 2.65

Hardness: 7 Mohs
Color: Tan to light brown (iron-stained)
Luster: Vitreous/Waxy (dulled by water wear)

Identified February 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Tan to light brown (iron-stained); Luster: Vitreous/Waxy (dulled by water wear); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal; SG: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes or igneous crystallization, then weathered out of host rock and rounded over thousands of years by fluvial (river) or coastal water movement.

Uses & applications

Raw quartz is used in glassmaking, abrasives, electronics, and construction aggregates. Small pebbles like this are popular for landscaping, aquarium gravel, or lapidary tumbling.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most chemically and physically resistant minerals on Earth's surface, which is why it often remains as rounded pebbles long after other minerals have weathered away.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of visible layering or grains. Common in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till worldwide.