mineral

Likely quartz or quartz-rich pebble

Quartz (SiO₂), possibly milky quartz or a small quartzite fragment

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Tiny rounded, pale gray-white specimen with a slightly glittery or granular surface; likely vitreous to dull luster. Quartz hardness is 7 Mohs, has no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The image is insufficient to confirm crystal faces or translucency.

Identified September 15, 2026More mineral →

Explore Likely quartz or quartz-rich pebble in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in hydrothermal veins, igneous rocks, and metamorphic rocks; quartzite forms when sandstone is metamorphosed. Quartz is geologically widespread and commonly Precambrian to recent. At approximately 34.5°N, 89.8°W, transported quartz pebbles and quartz-rich gravel are plausible in stream or surficial deposits.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, electronics, abrasives, engineered stone, and collecting; attractive transparent varieties are gemstones. This tiny opaque fragment has little commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second-most abundant mineral in Earth’s continental crust. White coloration commonly results from microscopic fluid inclusions or fractures.

Field identification & locations

Test against glass: it should scratch ordinary window glass; steel should not scratch it. A hand lens, streak test, and examination for conchoidal fracture would help distinguish quartz from calcite or glass.