metamorphic

Quartz Pebble with Chlorite or Epidote Inclusions

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white, cream, tan with greenish chlorite/epidote mottling; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: ~2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 25, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or metamorphic quartz veins where quartz crystallized alongside green silicate minerals like chlorite or epidote, subsequently eroded into a smooth stream pebble over time.

Uses & applications

Commonly collected as river stones, decorative lapidary material, or landscaping pebbles.

Geological facts

Green inclusions in quartz pebbles are frequently chlorite group minerals or fine-grained epidote/actinolite that were trapped as the quartz crystallized in low- to medium-grade metamorphic environments.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), smooth water-worn rounded shape, sub-vitreous waxy luster, and mottled green-and-white coloration. Commonly found in riverbeds, gravel bars, and glacial till.