mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow or tan (cloudy); Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Pale yellow or tan (cloudy)
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified March 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow or tan (cloudy); Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of magma or from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen has been rounded and smoothed by water erosion through transportation in a riverbed or coastal environment.

Uses & applications

Common quartz pebbles are used as high-grade industrial silica, in landscaping, aquarium decor, and sometimes as low-cost tumbling stones for jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is the most abundant and well-known mineral on the Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German 'Quarz', which has Slavic roots meaning 'hard'.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass and its lack of cleavage. This small, water-worn specimen is very common and can be found in almost any stream, beach, or gravel deposit globally.