mineral
Milky Quartz or Calcite Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) or Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness: 7 (Quartz) or 3 (Calcite); Color: Tan, beige, or milky white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Hexagonal or Trigonal; Opaque to translucent appearance with rounded edges.
- Hardness
- 7 (Quartz) or 3 (Calcite)
- Color
- Tan, beige, or milky white
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Quartz) or 3 (Calcite); Color: Tan, beige, or milky white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Hexagonal or Trigonal; Opaque to translucent appearance with rounded edges.
Formation & geological history
Forms in hydrothermal veins, as precipitates from mineral-rich fluids, or as a byproduct of metamorphic processes. This specific specimen has been significantly water-worn or tumbled by environmental erosion.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as decorative landscape stone, in gravel, or as a basic collector's specimen. Quartz is used in electronics and glass-making.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. If this specimen is Calcite, it will bubble when in contact with weak acid (like vinegar).
Field identification & locations
Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits. Identify by performing a hardness test: if it scratches glass, it is quartz; if it can be scratched by a penny, it is calcite.
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