mineral
Quartz (Pebble)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness 7, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal system, typically colorless, white, pink, or brownish with no cleavage.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness 7, vitreous to waxy luster, trigonal crystal system, typically colorless, white, pink, or brownish with no cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through precipitation from silica-rich fluids or crystallization from magma.
Uses & applications
Used widely in lapidary work, jewelry, electronics (piezoelectric applications), glass manufacturing, and landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the continental crust and highly resistant to both mechanical and chemical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identifiable by its inability to be scratched by a steel blade (hardness 7) and conchoidal fracture; commonly found in river gravels and beaches worldwide.
