sedimentary
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, waxy to vitreous luster, light brown to tan/yellowish color, microcrystalline to cryptocrystalline texture, rounded river-worn pebble morphology.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, waxy to vitreous luster, light brown to tan/yellowish color, microcrystalline to cryptocrystalline texture, rounded river-worn pebble morphology.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the erosion, transport, and mechanical rounding of quartz-rich bedrock or vein quartz within riverbed or beach sedimentary environments over long geological time periods.
Uses & applications
Used in aggregate for construction, landscaping rock, tumbling/polishing for rockhounding hobbies, and historical stone tools.
Geological facts
Smooth, rounded pebbles like this owe their gentle curves to millions of collisions with other stones underwater during long-distance river transport.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hard, scratch-resistant surface (scratches glass readily) and smooth, water-worn shape. Extensively found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and coastal beaches worldwide.
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