mineral
Iron-Stained Quartz Pebble
Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2) with Iron Oxide Inclusion/Staining
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, white to milky transclucent core with reddish-brown/orange iron oxide weathering staining.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, white to milky transclucent core with reddish-brown/orange iron oxide weathering staining.
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or igneous rocks, later weathered, eroded, and rounded by stream or beach action into a smooth pebble. Iron oxides coated fractures and surfaces during weathering.
Uses & applications
Commonly found as river gravel, decorative stone, landscaping filler, or collected as a simple beach pebble. Quartz is widely used in glassmaking and electronics.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's surface. The distinct reddish-orange coloration is typically caused by rust-like minerals such as limonite or hematite penetrating micro-fractures.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass, cannot be scratched by steel), glassy appearance beneath the surface rust, and smooth rounded pebble morphology. Found globally in riverbeds, lakeshores, and marine gravel deposits.
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