sedimentary

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: yellowish-tan to off-white due to iron oxide staining. Luster: vitreous to waxy/dull. Cleavage: none. Specific gravity: ~2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: yellowish-tan to off-white due to iron oxide staining
Luster: vitreous to waxy/dull

Identified July 24, 2026More sedimentary →

Explore Quartz Pebble in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: yellowish-tan to off-white due to iron oxide staining. Luster: vitreous to waxy/dull. Cleavage: none. Specific gravity: ~2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the erosion and weathering of quartz-bearing igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. Streams, rivers, or beach waves smooth and round the fragment over long periods.

Uses & applications

Used primarily for decorative landscaping, aquariums, aggregate in construction, or personal keepsakes and rock collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's surface. Small stream-worn pebbles like this often acquire a yellowish or brownish patina due to iron staining from surrounding soil and groundwater.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its hardness (scratches glass), smooth water-worn surface, and microcrystalline or crystalline silica composition. Commonly found along riverbeds, beaches, and gravel deposits worldwide.