mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: colorless to translucent white; Luster: vitreous (glassy) to waxy when water-worn; Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: colorless to translucent white
Luster: vitreous (glassy) to waxy when water-worn

Identified June 29, 2026More mineral →

Explore Quartz Pebble in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen has been physically weathered and rounded by water transport in a river, lake, or coastal environment.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, and as decorative aggregate. Smooth pebbles are often used in landscaping, aquariums, and as 'worry stones' or for pocket collection.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is chemically very stable, which is why it often remains as pebbles after other minerals from the parent rock have decomposed.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Commonly found on beaches and in riverbeds globally. Collectors look for high clarity or unique inclusions.