mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to yellowish-tan (due to iron staining); Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to yellowish-tan (due to iron staining)
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn)

Identified July 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling magma or precipitation in hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, likely millions of years old, shaped by fluvial erosion which smoothed its edges over time.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in landscaping, as a component of concrete, in glass manufacturing, and in its pure form, for high-tech electronics or metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Yellowish tints in white quartz pebbles are often caused by limonite or hematite staining on the surface or within fractures.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its ability to scratch glass and lack of cleavage. Look for smooth, rounded shapes in creek beds, beaches, or gravel pits. It is one of the most common finds for beginning collectors.