mineral

Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Variable (tan, white, yellowish, green staining); Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered); Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Variable (tan, white, yellowish, green staining)
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered)

Identified July 1, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins, subsequently eroded and rounded by water transport in rivers or beaches. These are often billions of years in the making through multiple cycles of erosion.

Uses & applications

Commonly used as gravel in construction, landscaping, and as a source of silica for glass manufacturing. Tumbled specimens are used in wire-wrap jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. These specific rounded shapes, known as 'river rocks', indicate a high-energy water environment in their geological history.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of cleavage. Found globally in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and coastal beaches.