sedimentary

Quartz-veined Sandstone Pebble

Quartzite-veined Arenite

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness of 7 for the quartz vein and 6-7 for the sandstone host, color is brownish-grey with a white-to-translucent quartz vein, waxy to vitreous luster on the vein and dull to earthy on the matrix, cryptocrystalline to microcrystalline structure, no cleavage.

Identified August 5, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the lithification of sand-sized mineral particles (predominantly quartz) into sandstone, subsequently fractured, and healed by hydrothermal fluids precipitating silica to form a quartz vein. Later weathered and rounded by water action into a pebble.

Uses & applications

Primarily of geological interest as an indicator of local hydrothermal activity and sedimentary history; common as a tumbled beach or river pebble.

Geological facts

Vein quartz cutting through sedimentary rock demonstrates multiple phases of geological activity: original sediment deposition, compaction into rock, tectonic fracturing, fluid migration, and finally surface weathering and transport.

Field identification & locations

Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial tills where quartz-rich sedimentary rocks undergo erosion. Identified by the stark contrast between the granular sandstone matrix and the smooth, hard quartz vein.