sedimentary

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Tan, beige, translucent brownish-white with reddish oxidation. Luster: Dull to vitreous (waxy when smoothed). Crystal Structure: Trigonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Dull to vitreous (waxy when smoothed)

Identified July 25, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the erosion and weathering of quartz veins or silica-rich igneous rocks, where water transport rounded the specimen in riverbeds, lakes, or marine environments.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in construction aggregate, landscaping, lapidary tumbling, and decorative pebble features.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most resistant minerals to chemical and mechanical weathering, which allows these small pebbles to survive long journeys in streams and rivers over millions of years.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass readily, cannot be scratched by a steel nail), rounded river-worn texture, and waxy to vitreous translucency. Extremely common in river beds, gravel deposits, and beaches worldwide.