mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: semi-translucent white to cream; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: semi-translucent white to cream
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified March 22, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: semi-translucent white to cream; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed from hydrothermal veins or the cooling of silica-rich magma. This specific specimen is water-worn and rounded through mechanical weathering and transport in a river or coastal environment, likely from the Holocene or Pleistocene era.

Uses & applications

Raw quartz is used in glass making, ceramics, and as an abrasive. In pebble form, it is commonly used for landscaping, garden pathways, and decorative aquarium gravel.

Geological facts

Quartz is the most abundant and stable mineral on Earth's continental crust. These white pebbles are often called 'milk quartz' due to microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass and lack of cleavage. Common in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till worldwide. Look for a smooth, matte to slightly translucent surface that does not react with acid.