mineral
Quartz pebble with iron staining
SiO2
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white to clear but often stained red, orange, or yellow by iron oxides. Luster is vitreous to greasy. Fracture is conchoidal.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white to clear but often stained red, orange, or yellow by iron oxides. Luster is vitreous to greasy. Fracture is conchoidal.
Formation & geological history
Formed in igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary environments. This specimen has been rounded by water action, typically found in riverbeds, beaches, or glacial deposits.
Uses & applications
Common quartz pebbles are used in landscaping, construction aggregates, and sometimes as tumbled stones in lapidary arts.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust. The reddish coloration in this stone is due to trace amounts of iron, likely hematite or limonite.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and typical river-tumbled shape. Very common in many gravel deposits worldwide.
