mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to translucent color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.

Identified August 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to translucent color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through crystallization from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or cooling magma, frequently weathering out of parent rocks and becoming rounded into pebbles through fluvial or marine transport over thousands to millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used in landscaping, decorative display, and as tumbled or polished stones for jewelry and lapidary arts.

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.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and characteristic conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial drift.