mineral
Milky quartz pebble
Quartz (SiO₂), cryptocrystalline to coarse microcrystalline variety
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectTypically Mohs hardness 7, white to translucent, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and conchoidal fracture; quartz is trigonal, lacks cleavage, and has specific gravity about 2.65. The rounded, frosted surface indicates natural abrasion or tumbling.
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Physical properties
Typically Mohs hardness 7, white to translucent, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and conchoidal fracture; quartz is trigonal, lacks cleavage, and has specific gravity about 2.65. The rounded, frosted surface indicates natural abrasion or tumbling.
Formation & geological history
Formed when silica-rich fluids crystallized in igneous, metamorphic, or hydrothermal environments; individual quartz grains may be Precambrian to modern. This specimen was likely weathered from quartz-bearing rock and rounded in sediment or mechanically tumbled.
Uses & applications
Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, engineered stone, and countertops; attractive pieces are sold as lapidary or decorative material. It is generally inexpensive unless exceptionally clear, large, or included.
Geological facts
Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its glassy translucence, hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch with a steel knife while potentially scratching ordinary glass. Common in river gravels, quartz veins, pegmatites, and many beaches.
