Mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to translucent white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Hexagonal crystal system (though water-worn); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Tan to translucent white
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified April 9, 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 silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or cooling magma. This specific specimen is a 'river rock' or 'alluvial pebble,' meaning it was eroded from a larger vein and smoothed by water transport over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as decorative landscaping gravel.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often survives as rounded pebbles in rivers and on beaches.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of cleavage. It is commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and beaches globally.