Mineral / Sedimentary component
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal cryptocrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Milky white to translucent
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal cryptocrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or within igneous rocks like granite. This specimen has been chemically and mechanically weathered into a smooth 'clast' through water transport in a fluvial (river) or coastal (beach) environment.
Uses & applications
Used in glass manufacturing, construction aggregates, lapidary (tumbling), and landscaping. Larger deposits are used for industrial silicon production.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. These smooth, rounded shapes occur through a process called 'attrition,' where rocks collide with each other in moving water.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass/steel) and lack of cleavage planes. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till. Collectors value them for lapidary work as they take a high polish.
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