Rock Identifier
Quartz Pebble (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)) — mineral
mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent white to milky tan. Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn). Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness
7 on Mohs scale
Color
Translucent white to milky tan
Luster
Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn)
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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent white to milky tan. Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn). Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or within igneous and metamorphic rocks. This specific specimen has been weather-worn and rounded by water transport in a river or coastal environment, likely over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, and as decorative landscaping gravel. High-purity quartz is essential in electronics and silicon chip manufacturing.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. This pebble shape is the result of 'abrasion' which happens as the rock hits others in moving water.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel knife) and lack of cleavage. Often found in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till globally.

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