sedimentary
Quartz Pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale tan, beige, or off-white. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline or massive in pebbles). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pale tan, beige, or off-white
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale tan, beige, or off-white. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline or massive in pebbles). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the mechanical weathering and water transport of primary quartz veins or silica-rich rocks, accumulating in riverbeds, beaches, and alluvial deposits over geological time scales.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, decorative gravel, abrasive manufacture, glassmaking, and gemstone tumbling.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals on Earth's continental crust, highly resistant to both chemical and mechanical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Found worldwide in stream beds, beaches, and sedimentary conglomerates. Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass) and lack of cleavage.
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