mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, translucent to opaque milky white to pale brown hue, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity ~2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, translucent to opaque milky white to pale brown hue, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity ~2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, then eroded and rounded by water transport over millions of years
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric crystals), abrasives, landscaping, and lapidary tumbling
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Rounded stream pebbles like this often travel dozens or hundreds of miles over thousands of years.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its ability to scratch glass (Hardness 7), lack of cleavage, and translucent milky appearance. Commonly found along rivers, beaches, and gravel beds globally.
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