mineral

Milky quartz pebble

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to gray, vitreous to waxy luster, massive rather than visibly crystalline, with conchoidal fracture and no cleavage. The rounded shape indicates natural water abrasion or tumbling; surface coating may obscure its luster.

Identified September 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins, cavities, or igneous and metamorphic rocks; individual quartz grains are commonly Precambrian to Phanerozoic in age. This specimen was likely weathered from a quartz vein and transported in alluvial sediment.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive pieces are sold as inexpensive display specimens, paperweights, or lapidary material.

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

Identify by its very high hardness, inability to be scratched by steel, glassy fracture, and lack of cleavage; calcite or limestone would be softer and react with dilute acid. Common in stream gravels and quartz veins worldwide.