mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white with iron-oxide (orange/yellow) staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white with iron-oxide (orange/yellow) staining
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn)

Identified July 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or within igneous and metamorphic rocks. This specific specimen is a water-worn river or beach pebble, smoothed by mechanical erosion over time.

Uses & applications

Primary source of silica for glass manufacturing, electronics (silicon chips), and used as an abrasive or construction aggregate. Tumbled specimens are used in decorative gravel and jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The yellow-orange tint on this specimen is likely due to limonite or hematite staining, which are common iron-oxide impurities.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its hard surface (cannot be scratched by steel), milky translucency, and lack of visible cleavage planes. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and gravel pits.