mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to milky white with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Tan to milky white with iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered)

Identified June 23, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica from hydrothermal veins or cooling magma. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, likely million of years old, weathered out of its parent rock.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glassmaking, electronics (quartz oscillators), and as an abrasive. Polished pebbles are used in landscaping and aquarium gravel.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'Quarz', which had its origins in Slavic and West Slavic languages.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass and steel) and lack of cleavage. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and soil. Collectors should look for translucency under strong light.