mineral
Quartz pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Mohs hardness of 7; translucent pale yellow to off-white/beige coloration; vitreous to waxy luster; conchoidal fracture; lacks distinct cleavage.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 7; translucent pale yellow to off-white/beige coloration; vitreous to waxy luster; conchoidal fracture; lacks distinct cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites and subsequently weathered and rounded through stream or beach water erosion over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Commonly collected by beachcombers and rockhounds, used for tumbling, decorative landscaping, and occasionally lapidary work.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's continental crust and is exceptionally resistant to mechanical and chemical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass easily), lack of cleavage, and rounded, water-worn shape. Commonly found along riverbeds, gravel bars, and ocean beaches worldwide.
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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
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Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)
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Schist
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Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
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Sandstone with Mineral Veining or Crust
Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)
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