mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to light brown; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Tan to light brown
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified July 12, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to light brown; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation in hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, shaped by erosion over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used primarily for landscaping, construction aggregate, and as a raw material for glass and silicon manufacturing. Polished versions are used in decorative gravel and aquarium substrates.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'Quarz', which had its origins in Slavic and West Slavic words meaning 'hard'.

Field identification & locations

Identifiable by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife, its smoothness from water erosion, and lack of visible cleavage planes. Found globally in riverbeds and beaches.