mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Creamy white with tan/rusty iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Hexagonal (though river-worn); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Creamy white with tan/rusty iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or as a major constituent of igneous rocks like granite. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, shaped and smoothed by long-term transport in a high-energy aquatic environment.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in landscaping as river rock, as a source for glass manufacturing (silica), or in jewelry when high-grade crystals are found.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. These rounded pebbles are often found thousands of miles from their original mountain source due to river transport.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife (hardness) and the lack of visible grain. Common in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits worldwide. This specimen shows typical 'tumbled' morphology from natural erosion.