mineral

Milky quartz pebble

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to translucent with a glassy-to-waxy luster; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The rounded shape indicates natural water or abrasion wear.

Identified August 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in igneous, metamorphic, or hydrothermal environments; this specimen was likely eroded from quartz-bearing rock and transported as sediment. Quartz is common from Precambrian rocks to the present.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics, abrasives, ceramics, and engineered stone; attractive pieces are collected but this small rough pebble has limited commercial value.

Geological facts

Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically resistant minerals.

Field identification & locations

Common in stream gravels, beaches, soils, and quartz veins worldwide; it scratches ordinary glass and steel but is not scratched by a steel knife. The image alone cannot exclude white chalcedony or another pale silicate.