mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Off-white to yellowish tan due to iron staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal (often massive/granular in water-worn pebbles). Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Off-white to yellowish tan due to iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Off-white to yellowish tan due to iron staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal (often massive/granular in water-worn pebbles). Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed via igneous intrusions or hydrothermally, later weathered, eroded, and rounded by stream or river transport over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used widely in landscaping, decorative stone, construction aggregate, and as tumbling specimens for rockhounding enthusiasts.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Rounded quartzite and quartz pebbles like this are often referred to as river rocks or cobbles.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its ability to easily scratch glass, lack of cleavage, crystalline surface reflection, and rounded water-worn morphology. Common along riverbeds, beaches, and gravel deposits worldwide.
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