sedimentary
Common Gravel / Pebble
Lithified rock fragment / Detrital sediment
Hardness varies (typically 6-7 on Mohs scale if quartz-rich), gray to brownish color, dull to sub-vitreous luster, amorphous to cryptocrystalline structure, no distinct cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness varies (typically 6-7 on Mohs scale if quartz-rich), gray to brownish color, dull to sub-vitreous luster, amorphous to cryptocrystalline structure, no distinct cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the physical weathering and erosion of parent rocks, followed by transport via water or wind and deposition in stream beds, beaches, or glacial deposits.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction, road base, landscaping, and concrete aggregate.
Geological facts
Pebbles and gravel represent some of the most common products of mechanical weathering on Earth's surface, often rounding out over long distances of transport in rivers.
Field identification & locations
Found universally in riverbeds, glacial till, and sedimentary deposits worldwide. Easily identified by their rounded, weathered exterior shaped by abrasion.
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