mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Off-white to light gray with brownish iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Microcrystalline to massive aggregate structure; Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: ~2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Off-white to light gray with brownish iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 22, 2026More mineral →

Explore Quartz Pebble in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich fluid solutions precipitating in hydrothermal veins or igneous rocks. This smooth, rounded pebble shape was created through natural water abrasion over long periods in a riverbed, stream, or coastal beach environment.

Uses & applications

Commonly used as decorative landscaping rock, in aquariums, or as lapidary tumbling material. Massive quartz is also utilized in glassmaking, ceramics, and abrasives.

Geological facts

River-tumbled quartz pebbles can travel hundreds of miles from their original bedrock source, gradually losing sharp edges through friction with other rocks and riverbed gravel.

Field identification & locations

Identify by high hardness (scratches glass easily, steel cannot scratch it), lack of cleavage, and smooth, water-worn exterior with waxy-to-glassy luster. Abundant worldwide in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and beaches.