mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: yellowish-brown, tan, to translucent light brown. Luster: vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: trigonal/hexagonal. Cleavage: none, fracture is conchoidal. Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: yellowish-brown, tan, to translucent light brown
Luster: vitreous to waxy

Identified July 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich magmas or hydrothermal veins, subsequently weathered, eroded, and stream-rounded over thousands to millions of years in riverbeds or coastal environments.

Uses & applications

Commonly used for lapidary tumbling, aquarium gravel, decorative landscaping, and as a durable mineral specimen for beginner rockhounds.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust. Rounded stream pebbles like this often exhibit a sub-vitreous to waxy luster due to natural abrasion and micro-fracturing.

Field identification & locations

Look for a hardness that scratches glass, conchoidal fracture patterns on freshly broken surfaces, and a smooth, water-worn exterior without cleavage planes. Frequently found in gravel pits, riverbeds, and beaches worldwide.