sedimentary
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Mohs hardness 7, translucent to sub-vitreous luster, white to pale pinkish/yellowish color, conchoidal fracture, trigonal crystal system, specific gravity 2.65. Stream-rounded/beach-worn texture.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness 7, translucent to sub-vitreous luster, white to pale pinkish/yellowish color, conchoidal fracture, trigonal crystal system, specific gravity 2.65. Stream-rounded/beach-worn texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed originally as quartz veins or granitic pegmatites, then eroded, weathered, and rounded by water action in stream beds, river channels, or oceanic coastlines over long geological periods.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as river rock landscaping material, aggregate for construction, aquariums, and polishing/lapidary tumbling practice.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and resistant minerals on Earth's surface, allowing it to survive extensive mechanical weathering that grinds down softer minerals like feldspar and mica.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, milky to translucent appearance, and rounded, smooth water-worn surface. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits.
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