sedimentary
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, pale off-white to beige color, dull to waxy luster due to weathering, smooth rounded pebble shape, microcrystalline to macrocrystalline quartz aggregate structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, pale off-white to beige color, dull to waxy luster due to weathering, smooth rounded pebble shape, microcrystalline to macrocrystalline quartz aggregate structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed via physical weathering and stream or coastal erosion of quartz-bearing parent rocks like granite, quartzite, or sandstone. Water transport rounded and smoothed the fragment over time.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in landscaping, river rock gravels, aquariums, decorative crafts, and as general geological study specimens.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and resistant minerals on Earth's surface, which is why quartz pebbles frequently survive long-distance water transport when other minerals erode away.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of reaction to acid, and smooth, rounded water-worn texture. Commonly found along riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till deposits worldwide.
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