sedimentary
Quartzite Pebble / Chert Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Banded grey, white, tan, and reddish-brown oxide staining; Luster: Waxy to dull; Cleavage: None (conchoidal to irregular fracture); Specific gravity: ~2.65
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Banded grey, white, tan, and reddish-brown oxide staining
- Luster
- Waxy to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Banded grey, white, tan, and reddish-brown oxide staining; Luster: Waxy to dull; Cleavage: None (conchoidal to irregular fracture); Specific gravity: ~2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed by the deposition of microcrystalline silica or metamorphism of quartz sandstone, subsequently rounded and smoothed through river or beach water erosion over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Commonly collected as river rocks, used in landscaping, road construction gravel, and decorative stone arrangements.
Geological facts
The reddish-orange discoloration on the surface is iron oxide staining, often caused by exposure to oxygen and water containing dissolved iron during weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness (scratches glass and steel), smooth water-worn texture, waxy surface feel, and distinct banding or color zones. Found abundantly in riverbeds, glacial tills, and along ocean beaches worldwide.
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