mineral
Quartz-rich pebble
Likely milky quartz or quartz-rich vein rock (SiO₂); exact identification is uncertain from the photo
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectSmall, rounded gray-brown pebble with a pale, uneven quartz-like patch and dull to slightly glassy surfaces. Quartz has Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65.
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Physical properties
Small, rounded gray-brown pebble with a pale, uneven quartz-like patch and dull to slightly glassy surfaces. Quartz has Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Likely a fragment of quartz-bearing rock weathered and rounded during transport by water or glacial action; its original formation age and source cannot be determined from appearance alone.
Uses & applications
Primarily a collecting specimen; quartz-bearing rock is also used in aggregate and, when sufficiently pure, glass and industrial silica.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and resists weathering, so it commonly accumulates as rounded pebbles.
Field identification & locations
Look for hardness (scratches ordinary glass), lack of cleavage, and a pale vitreous fracture; the pictured pebble’s texture suggests quartz but is not diagnostic. Quartz occurs worldwide in veins and many rock types.
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