mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness 7 on the Mohs scale, milky white to translucent off-white color, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on the Mohs scale, milky white to translucent off-white color, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed in igneous pegmatites or hydrothermal veins, then eroded, transported, and rounded by fluvial or marine water action over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Commonly collected as river stones, used in landscaping, decorative stone displays, tumbling, and industrial abrasives.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Rounded quartzite and quartz pebbles are among the most durable rocks on the planet.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its scratch resistance (scratches glass easily), lack of cleavage, and water-worn smooth shape. Extremely common worldwide in riverbeds and beaches.
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Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments
Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate
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Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)
FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
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Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral