mineral
Quartz pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to brownish color due to iron staining, vitreous to dull luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no distinct cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to brownish color due to iron staining, vitreous to dull luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no distinct cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through crystallization in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Quartz is exceptionally resistant to weathering and erosion, allowing it to persist and form rounded pebbles in streams, rivers, and beaches over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, gravel aggregates, glassmaking, electronics, and occasionally polished for ornamental jewelry or lapidary work.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals in Earth's continental crust. Its high resistance to chemical and physical weathering is why it frequently survives as sand grains and pebbles long after its parent rock has completely broken down.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its high hardness (scratches glass easily), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. Commonly found worldwide in riverbeds, gravel deposits, and beaches.
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Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments
Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate
sedimentary
Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)
FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
mineral
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic