mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-translucent to milky white with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (smooth, river-worn); Crystal structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Yellowish-translucent to milky white with iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (smooth, river-worn)

Identified July 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes or igneous crystallization. This rounded pebble was eroded from a host rock and naturally tumbled and polished by stream, river, or ocean wave action.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as decorative river rock, landscaping gravel, tumbling material for rockhounding hobbyists, and in industrial glassmaking or silicon production.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's continental crust. Rounded river-worn quartz pebbles are often called 'pebble quartz' or 'water-worn quartz'.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass easily), smooth river-rounded oval shape, waxy-vitreous luster, and yellowish translucent appearance. Commonly found along riverbeds, beaches, and gravel pits worldwide.