mineral

Quartz Pebble

Crystalline Silica (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: translucent yellow-tan, Luster: vitreous to waxy (weathered), Crystal System: Trigonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Identified July 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: translucent yellow-tan, Luster: vitreous to waxy (weathered), Crystal System: Trigonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Formation & geological history

Formed via crystallization from magma or hydrothermal veins; this specific specimen has been significantly rounded and smoothed through high-energy water transport (fluvial or beach erosion).

Uses & applications

Used as an abrasive, in glass making, as architectural aggregate, and by collectors as pocket stones or lapidary material.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. These rounded shapes are often called 'sea glass beans' or 'river stones' depending on where they are found.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Common on beaches and in riverbeds worldwide where silica-rich rocks are present.