mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: off-white, light gray, translucent tan; Luster: vitreous to waxy/dull; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- off-white, light gray, translucent tan
- Luster
- vitreous to waxy/dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: off-white, light gray, translucent tan; Luster: vitreous to waxy/dull; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through crystallization in igneous rocks like granite or hydrothermal veins, subsequently eroded and rounded by water action in riverbeds or ocean beaches over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in landscaping, river rock aggregate, glassmaking, silica source, and decorative stone collecting.
Geological facts
Water-worn quartz pebbles are among the most abundant specimens found along rivers and beaches worldwide due to quartz's exceptional hardness and chemical resistance.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its ability to scratch glass (hardness 7), lack of cleavage, translucent appearance, and rounded, smooth texture from water erosion. Found in gravel beds, stream deposits, and shorelines.
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