mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent tan to pale pinkish-brown with iron oxide staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy on water-worn surfaces. Fracture: Conchoidal. Cleavage: None.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy on water-worn surfaces
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent tan to pale pinkish-brown with iron oxide staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy on water-worn surfaces. Fracture: Conchoidal. Cleavage: None.
Formation & geological history
Formed in igneous pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, or metamorphic rocks. It was subsequently eroded, transported, and rounded by stream or river activity into a smooth pebble.
Uses & applications
Commonly collected as a beach or river stone; raw material for glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics when pure; popular as gravel in landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's continental crust. River-worn quartz pebbles often display a waxy or greasy surface luster due to micro-abrasions from water transport.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its ability to easily scratch glass, lack of cleavage, and translucent look. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till deposits.
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