mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, clear, or off-white in color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of roughly 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, clear, or off-white in color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of roughly 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed via crystallization from silica-rich solutions or cooling magmas, often weathered from pegmatites or veins and rounded into pebbles through fluvial or marine transport over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in glass manufacturing, electronics, abrasives, gemstones, and landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust and is exceptionally resistant to both chemical and physical weathering, which is why it commonly survives as durable pebbles in rivers and beaches.
Field identification & locations
Can be easily identified by its hardness (it easily scratches glass and steel cannot scratch it) and its distinct conchoidal fracture. Found globally in almost all geological environments.
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