Rock Identifier

mineral

Quartz pebble with iron staining

Silicon dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide impurities

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white or colorless but stained yellow/orange/brown by iron oxides (limonite/goethite). Vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture. Often found as rounded pebbles due to weathering.

Identified August 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white or colorless but stained yellow/orange/brown by iron oxides (limonite/goethite). Vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture. Often found as rounded pebbles due to weathering.

Formation & geological history

Formed initially as igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary vein deposits. The rounded shape indicates transport and weathering by water (river or beach environment).

Uses & applications

Commonly collected as a lapidary material for tumbling. Industrial uses for quartz include glassmaking and abrasives.

Geological facts

Iron staining is a very common surface or internal feature in quartz pebbles found in soils or riverbeds.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. The orange staining is characteristic of iron.

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