sedimentary

Milky Quartz Pebble with Iron Inclusions

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide impurities

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: cloudy white to pinkish-orange due to staining, Luster: vitreous to waxy, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65

Identified July 14, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites initially (igneous/metamorphic), but this specific specimen has been rounded by water transport in a stream or river environment (alluvial deposition). Age varies widely depending on source bedrock.

Uses & applications

Used as decorative gravel, in landscaping, as tumbling rough for hobbyists, and in some contexts as a source of silica for industrial manufacturing.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Specimens like this are often called 'river rocks' and acquire their smooth shape over thousands of years of tumbling in riverbeds.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its smooth water-worn surface, and its resistance to chemical weathering. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits.