mineral

Quartz pebble

Silicon dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: semi-transparent, milky white to tan/yellowish; Luster: vitreous (glassy) to waxy when weathered; Crystal System: Trigonal (though rounded here); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: semi-transparent, milky white to tan/yellowish
Luster: vitreous (glassy) to waxy when weathered

Identified May 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the crystallization of magma or from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is likely a water-worn river pebble, having been smoothed by mechanical erosion over many centuries.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics as a piezoelectric material, in glass manufacturing, as an abrasive, and potentially as a tumbling specimen for hobbyists.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'quarz', which had its origins in Slavic and West Slavonic languages meaning 'hard'.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass and lack of cleavage. Found globally in rivers, beaches, and soil. To identify in the field, look for the 'conchoidal' fracture patterns which look like curved shell-like chips.