mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; milky white to translucent; vitreous to waxy luster; trigonal crystal structure; conchoidal fracture with no cleavage; specific gravity 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; milky white to translucent; vitreous to waxy luster; trigonal crystal structure; conchoidal fracture with no cleavage; specific gravity 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and metamorphic environments, then weathered into rounded river pebbles over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, electronics, abrasives, decorative landscaping, and tumbling for lapidary collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust and is resistant to both physical and chemical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass, cannot be scratched by a steel pocketknife) and rounded, water-worn appearance. Found worldwide in stream beds, river gravels, and ocean beaches.
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Mineral
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Mineral/Rock