mineral

Rounded pale quartz-rich pebble

Likely milky quartz or quartzite (SiO₂); exact identification is uncertain from the photograph

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Off-white to light gray, dull-to-slightly glassy luster, fine-grained appearance, and rounded water-worn shape. Quartz hardness is Mohs 7; quartzite is similarly hard, with no obvious cleavage and conchoidal fracture; specific gravity is about 2.65–2.70.

Identified August 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Probably derived from weathered quartz vein material or quartz-rich metamorphic rock and rounded by stream or shoreline transport. Its geological age cannot be determined visually and may range from ancient to relatively young depending on the source.

Uses & applications

Common quartz pebbles have little commercial value; quartzite is used as aggregate, road stone, landscaping stone, and occasionally as a decorative material. A typical specimen is worth about $1–$10, unless unusually pure, attractive, or locality-documented.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is resistant to weathering, allowing it to persist as rounded pebbles after softer minerals erode away.

Field identification & locations

Test with a steel file or knife: genuine quartz should resist scratching; glassy chips or a white streak support quartz, though streak testing is difficult on a rounded specimen. It is commonly found in stream gravels, beaches, quartz veins, and quartzite-bearing terrains.