sedimentary
Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or clear in color, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline or microcrystalline structure, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or clear in color, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline or microcrystalline structure, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through weathering and erosion of parent rocks containing quartz veins or pegmatites, followed by transportation and rounding in rivers, streams, or marine environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, decorative ground cover, construction aggregate, and occasionally in lapidary work for tumbled stones.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals in Earth's continental crust, highly resistant to both chemical and mechanical weathering, which allows quartz pebbles to survive long journeys in riverbeds and beaches.
Field identification & locations
Found worldwide in stream beds, river gravels, beaches, and alluvial deposits. Easily identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and rounded shape due to water tumbling.
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Quartz pebble
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