mineral

Milky quartz pebble (probable)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to translucent, rounded and likely water-worn, with a glassy-to-waxy luster. Mohs hardness 7; no cleavage, uneven to conchoidal fracture; quartz is trigonal and has specific gravity about 2.65.

Identified September 3, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

White to translucent, rounded and likely water-worn, with a glassy-to-waxy luster. Mohs hardness 7; no cleavage, uneven to conchoidal fracture; quartz is trigonal and has specific gravity about 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed when silica crystallized in igneous or hydrothermal environments, then released and rounded by weathering and transport. Its precise age cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive polished pieces are inexpensive decorative or collecting specimens.

Geological facts

The cloudy appearance is caused by microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities. The smooth shape suggests a tumbled or naturally stream-rounded pebble, though the image cannot distinguish these confidently.

Field identification & locations

Likely identification should be confirmed by a scratch test: it should scratch ordinary glass, while a steel knife should not scratch it. The reported Ethiopian location is geologically plausible for quartz-bearing rocks and stream gravels; alternatives include white calcite or chalcedony, which require hardness and acid tests to separate.