mineral

Quartz Pebble with Hematite Inclusion

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Translucent milky white to pale pinkish quartz with reddish-brown hematite/iron oxide matrix center. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal). Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes or silica crystallization in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The pebble shape indicates stream or beach erosion (tumbling by water action over time).

Uses & applications

Commonly collected as a decorative rock or beach specimen, used in lapidary arts, and used as raw material for aggregate or silica production.

Geological facts

Water-worn quartz pebbles often trap iron oxide minerals like hematite inside cavities or fracture zones, creating distinct reddish-brown inner cores or veins.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), smooth water-rounded surface, and milky-white to translucent appearance around a darker mineral center. Found in stream beds, gravel pits, and along coastlines worldwide.

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