mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to translucent tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 Mohs
Color: White to translucent tan
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 17, 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

Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to translucent tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is water-worn, indicating it was smoothed by alluvial or glacial transport over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics, abrasives, and as decorative landscape gravel or polished stones for jewelry and collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'Quarz', which has origins in Slavic languages meaning 'hard'.

Field identification & locations

Commonly found in riverbeds, beaches, and soil. To identify in the field, look for a stone that can scratch glass and does not react to acid. These pebbles are ubiquitous globally.