mineral
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 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
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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.
