mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors vary from clear to white, yellow, brown, or gray due to impurities. Vitreous luster, trigonal crystal system when formed well, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors vary from clear to white, yellow, brown, or gray due to impurities. Vitreous luster, trigonal crystal system when formed well, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed via crystallization from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or cooling magma, frequently found in pegmatites and metamorphic rocks. Weathering and water transport over long periods result in the smooth, rounded pebble shape seen here.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics, glassware, precision instruments, and as decorative landscape stones or tumbled gemstones.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals in Earth's continental crust. Its high resistance to both mechanical and chemical weathering allows it to survive long transport in rivers and beaches, forming resistant quartz pebbles and sand.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its hardness (scratches glass) and conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide in riverbeds, beaches, and alluvial deposits.
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Arenite (SiO2 based)
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Septarian Pebble
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