mineral
Quartz Pebble with Iron Oxide Staining
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite/Limonite coatings
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to clear base quartz covered with reddish-orange iron oxide staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy on fresh fractures, dull on weathered surfaces; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to clear base quartz covered with reddish-orange iron oxide staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy on fresh fractures, dull on weathered surfaces; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites and later weathered, eroded, and transported as stream or soil pebbles. The orange-red coloration comes from secondary iron oxide weathering (limonite or hematite) in soil or groundwater environments.
Uses & applications
Common specimen for hobbyist rock collecting, landscaping, and aggregate production. High-purity quartz is used in electronics, silicon production, and glass manufacturing.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust. Iron oxides strongly stain the surface of quartz pebbles, giving them a rusty or terracotta appearance even if the interior core remains clear or milky white.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its ability to scratch glass (Mohs 7), lack of cleavage, milky-to-clear interior, and stubborn rusty outer coating. Extremely common in riverbeds, soil horizons, and gravel pits worldwide.
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