mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 Mohs, Color: Milky white to translucent, Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered), Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Identified More mineral →
Explore Quartz Pebble in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs, Color: Milky white to translucent, Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered), Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins; this specific piece has been rounded and smoothed by water erosion (abrasion) in a stream or beach environment.
Uses & applications
Industrial use in glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics. Small pebbles are often used in landscaping, aquariums, and as decorative stone.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to both chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often remains as pebbles after other minerals have eroded.
Field identification & locations
Identifiable by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of cleavage. Look for smooth, water-worn surfaces along riverbeds, glacial tills, and shorelines worldwide.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Gypsum (variety Selenite or Alabaster)
Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
igneous