sedimentary
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or clear color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or clear color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms from the weathering and erosion of quartz-bearing rocks like granite or quartzite, often smoothed by water action in streams, rivers, or beaches over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, decorative stone, manufacturing of glass and silicon chips, and as aggregate in construction.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust and is exceptionally resistant to both mechanical and chemical weathering, which is why it survives as pebbles long after other minerals have broken down.
Field identification & locations
Found worldwide in riverbeds, beaches, and gravel deposits. Easily identified by its high hardness (scratches glass) and conchoidal fracture.
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