mineral

White Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified May 26, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or as a primary constituent in igneous rocks like granite. This specific rounded shape is the result of mechanical weathering and river or coastal erosion over a geological period.

Uses & applications

Used in landscaping, as an abrasive, in glass manufacturing, for silicon production, and as decorative river stones or pocket stones.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its white appearance from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass and steel, its lack of cleavage, and smooth, water-worn surface. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits.