sedimentary

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: whitish, translucent gray, brownish mottling
Luster: vitreous to waxy/dull when weathered

Identified July 24, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

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.