mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Mohs hardness of 7, translucent yellowish-beige to off-white, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, smooth rounded river-tumbled texture.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 7, translucent yellowish-beige to off-white, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, smooth rounded river-tumbled texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed in various igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. The rounded shape is a result of mechanical weathering and natural erosion in water currents over extended periods.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as a tumbled pocket stone, decorative gravel, landscaping material, or lapidary specimen for beginner stone polishing.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Rounded quartzite and quartz pebbles like this one are extremely resistant to chemical and physical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, smooth rounded water-worn surface, and translucent milky appearance. Commonly found along riverbeds, beaches, and gravel deposits worldwide.
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Sandstone with Mineral Veining or Crust
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