mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Off-white to pale cream with light iron staining. Luster: Vitreous to dull/waxy due to weathering. Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline/massive). Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Off-white to pale cream with light iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to dull/waxy due to weathering

Identified July 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed via weathering, erosion, and rounding of quartz veins or quartz-rich rocks in riverbeds, beaches, or glacial streams. High resistance to mechanical and chemical weathering allows quartz to survive long-distance transport.

Uses & applications

Commonly used as decorative river rock, landscaping gravel, aquascaping material, tumbled pocket stones, or raw material for industrial silica processing.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Smooth water-worn pebbles like this one are smoothed over thousands of years by the abrasive action of water and sand.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass easily, cannot be scratched by a steel blade), lack of cleavage, smooth water-worn texture, and typical white or translucent appearance. Abundant worldwide along coastlines, rivers, and gravel pits.