sedimentary
Quartz pebble with calcite
Silicon dioxide (SiO2) with Calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale for the quartz component, and 3 for calcite. Colors range from greenish-yellow to translucent. Luster is vitreous to waxy. Crystal system is trigonal.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale for the quartz component, and 3 for calcite. Colors range from greenish-yellow to translucent. Luster is vitreous to waxy. Crystal system is trigonal.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the weathering and water-transport of primary rock formations, resulting in a smoothed, rounded pebble often found in riverbeds or marine environments.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in decorative landscape design, rock tumbling, lapidary arts, and as a common specimen for amateur rock collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's continental crust and is exceptionally resistant to both chemical and mechanical weathering, which allows quartz pebbles to survive long journeys in river systems.
Field identification & locations
Can be easily identified in the field by its rounded shape due to water transport, vitreous luster on exposed faces, and resistance to scratching by steel.
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