mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: White to milky-white with slight pinkish or reddish staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal Structure: Trigonal. Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture. Specific Gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White to milky-white with slight pinkish or reddish staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: White to milky-white with slight pinkish or reddish staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal Structure: Trigonal. Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture. Specific Gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms through crystallization in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Quartz is exceptionally resistant to weathering and chemical breakdown, allowing it to survive transportation in rivers and streams to form rounded pebbles.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, decorative gravel, glassmaking, and occasionally as tumbled lapidary stones.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust. Its extreme durability means quartz pebbles can persist in the geological record long after other rock types have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide in stream beds, beaches, and conglomerate rock formations.
