sedimentary
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white or milky color with iron staining, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white or milky color with iron staining, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation of quartz grains that have been weathered and eroded from parent igneous or metamorphic rocks, then transported by water and rounded into a pebble over long periods in stream beds or beach environments.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, decorative stone, construction aggregate, and occasionally tumbled for jewelry or lapidary crafts.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals in Earth's continental crust, highly resistant to both chemical and mechanical weathering, which allows it to survive long journeys in riverbeds as smooth pebbles.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its high hardness (it will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and smooth, water-worn shape found abundantly in gravel bars, riverbeds, and ancient conglomerate formations.
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