mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Smoky grey to white, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Specific Gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Smoky grey to white, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms through cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal fluids. This specimen is water-worn, likely found in a riverbed or coastal environment.
Uses & applications
Industrial use in glassmaking and electronics; tumbled versions are used in jewelry, landscaping, and as pocket stones for collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. This specific rounded shape is the result of mechanical weathering through abrasive action in water.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (cannot be scratched by steel) and lack of cleavage (it breaks with conchoidal fracture). Common in river beds and beaches worldwide.
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Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Gypsum (variety Selenite or Alabaster)
Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)
Metamorphic Rock