sedimentary

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent yellowish-brown to tan. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Fracture: Conchoidal. Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal (microcrystalline or massive in pebbles).

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Translucent yellowish-brown to tan
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 27, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent yellowish-brown to tan. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Fracture: Conchoidal. Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal (microcrystalline or massive in pebbles).

Formation & geological history

Formed through the erosion and weathering of quartz-rich igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. Over time, water action in rivers, streams, or ocean shores rounds and smooths the rock into a river pebble.

Uses & applications

Used primarily for landscaping, rock tumbling, educational specimens, and aggregate in construction.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust. Water-worn quartz pebbles like this one are extremely common in gravel pits, riverbeds, and along beaches worldwide.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), waxy to greasy luster when water-worn, light translucency when held to light, and smooth, rounded surface shape. Found abundantly in river valleys, lake shores, and glacial deposits.