mineral

Quartz pebble or quartz-rich fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂), possibly iron-stained or included

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small irregular pale yellow-white fragment with a glassy to sugary luster; likely hardness Mohs 7, no obvious cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity about 2.65. The image is not detailed enough to confirm crystal form or exact variety.

Identified August 30, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz commonly crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or forms as resistant grains in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks; its geological age may range from recent sediment to billions of years. Yellow coloration may result from iron staining or weathering.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive transparent pieces may be used as inexpensive gemstone material or specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is commonly recognized by its hardness and lack of cleavage. It can scratch ordinary glass and steel but should be tested cautiously on an inconspicuous surface.

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide, especially in veins, granite, sandstone, and stream gravels. Confirm with a hardness test, glassy fracture, and absence of cleavage; identification is provisional because the specimen is tiny and partly obscured.