sedimentary
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: whitish, translucent gray, brownish mottling; Luster: vitreous to waxy/dull when weathered; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline or massive quartz aggregate); Cleavage: none, conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- whitish, translucent gray, brownish mottling
- Luster
- vitreous to waxy/dull when weathered
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: whitish, translucent gray, brownish mottling; Luster: vitreous to waxy/dull when weathered; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline or massive quartz aggregate); Cleavage: none, conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed as stream or beach-worn pebble from quartz veins or quartzite parent rock. Water abrasion rounded and smoothed the surface over time.
Uses & applications
Decorative rock, landscape gravel, lapidary polishing, educational samples, and rock tumbling.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust. Rounded stream pebbles like this often travel dozens or hundreds of miles downstream from their source outcrop.
Field identification & locations
Look for rounded, smooth surfaces with micro-fractures, translucent areas under bright light, and high hardness (scratches glass easily). Very common in riverbeds, gravel pits, and beaches worldwide.
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