mineral
Milky quartz pebble
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectOpaque to translucent white with tan staining and a vitreous-to-waxy luster; hardness 7 Mohs, hexagonal crystal system, no cleavage, and uneven fracture. The photo shows a rounded, weathered specimen; internal crystal texture is not clear.
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Physical properties
Opaque to translucent white with tan staining and a vitreous-to-waxy luster; hardness 7 Mohs, hexagonal crystal system, no cleavage, and uneven fracture. The photo shows a rounded, weathered specimen; internal crystal texture is not clear.
Formation & geological history
Likely quartz from a quartz vein or quartz-rich rock, later freed by weathering and rounded by transport in water. Quartz veins form in many geological settings and can be of varied ages.
Uses & applications
Quartz is widely used in glass, electronics, and industrial abrasives; attractive specimens are collected or polished for decoration.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and resists weathering, making it common in stream and beach gravels.
Field identification & locations
Look for hardness sufficient to scratch glass, lack of cleavage, and a white streak; tan color may come from iron-oxide staining. Common worldwide in veins and quartz-rich gravels.
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