mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to translucent gray, Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn), Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to translucent gray, Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn), Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen has been smoothed and rounded by river or beach erosion (alluvium).
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as decorative landscaping stones or tumbling material for hobbyists.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often remains as rounded pebbles while other minerals dissolve or break down.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and translucent appearance. Frequently found in riverbeds, glacial till, and coastal beaches worldwide.
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Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)
Metamorphic Rock
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Green Apatite on Albite
Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]
mineral