mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Quartz

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (smooth, river/beach tumbled); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (smooth, river/beach tumbled)

Identified July 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydro-thermal veins, pegmatites, and igneous rocks. Smooth, rounded pebble shape results from long-term mechanical erosion by water action in rivers, streams, or coastal beach environments.

Uses & applications

Commonly collected as souvenirs, used in decorative landscaping, aquarium gravel, lapidary tumbling, and glassmaking industry when pure.

Geological facts

Milky white quartz gets its opaque, cloudy appearance from millions of microscopic fluid inclusions (tiny gas or liquid bubbles) trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified by its hardness (scratches glass and steel), lack of cleavage, rounded eroded surface, and milky white translucency. Found worldwide along stream beds, riverbanks, and beaches.