mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, translucent, or light tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (especially when water-worn); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: White, translucent, or light tan
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (especially when water-worn)

Identified July 12, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen appears to be water-worn, likely tumbled in a river or stream bed over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used extensively in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as construction aggregate.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is known as rock crystal, but impurities create various colors like amethyst, rose quartz, and citrine.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Common in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and mountain terrain worldwide.