mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, smoky, or translucent brown; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: White, smoky, or translucent brown
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 1, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, smoky, or translucent brown; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. These rounded pebbles are typically the result of mechanical weathering and transport in rivers, streams, or coastal environments over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in landscaping, as an abrasive in sandblasting, in glass manufacturing, and as decorative gravel. Higher quality quartz is used in jewelry and electronics (piezoelectricity).

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Because of its hardness and chemical stability, it persists as pebbles long after other minerals have weathered away.