mineral
Quartz pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically translucent to transparent, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically translucent to transparent, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through crystallization from silica-rich solutions or cooling magma; often weathered out of pegmatites, metamorphic, or igneous rocks and subsequently rounded into pebbles via water transport in streams or beaches.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, decorative gravel, tumbling, lapidary arts, and as a durable mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals in Earth's continental crust, surviving weathering and erosion longer than almost any other mineral.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and glassy luster. Commonly found in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial outwash.
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Schist
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