sedimentary
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown, tan, or clear in color, vitreous to waxy 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 brown, tan, or clear in color, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the weathering and erosion of quartz-bearing rocks like granite or quartzite, followed by transportation in water streams where it becomes rounded into a pebble over long geological timescales.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, decorative stone, production of silicon and ferrosilicon, and as a common tumbling stone for rockhounds.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals in Earth's continental crust, surviving weathering processes that destroy most other minerals.
Field identification & locations
Found worldwide in riverbeds, beaches, and alluvial deposits. Easily identifiable by its high hardness (scratches glass) and lack of cleavage.
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