metamorphic
Quartz-veined Metamorphic Pebble
Silicate-rich metamorphic rock with quartz veins (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 (due to quartz), gray to brownish-gray color with white quartz veining, dull to vitreous luster, amorphous to cryptocrystalline structure, no distinct cleavage in the host rock but conchoidal fracture in quartz veins, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 (due to quartz), gray to brownish-gray color with white quartz veining, dull to vitreous luster, amorphous to cryptocrystalline structure, no distinct cleavage in the host rock but conchoidal fracture in quartz veins, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through regional or contact metamorphism of preexisting sedimentary or igneous rocks, subsequently weathered, transported by water, and rounded into a pebble by wave or river action over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Commonly found in landscaping, gravel, decorative stone, and as a casual collector's specimen.
Geological facts
The prominent white line running across the rock is a quartz vein, formed when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids filled fractures in the surrounding rock and crystallized.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its smooth, water-worn shape and the contrasting white quartz veins cutting through the darker host matrix. Found in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till worldwide.
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