mineral

Rounded quartz pebble

Quartz, crystalline silica (SiO₂), likely milky quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to cream, smooth water-worn surface, translucent edges, and vitreous-to-waxy luster; quartz has Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65.

Identified August 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

White to cream, smooth water-worn surface, translucent edges, and vitreous-to-waxy luster; quartz has Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed when silica-rich fluids crystallized in igneous or metamorphic rocks, then released by weathering and rounded by stream or beach transport. Quartz commonly formed during Precambrian through younger geological periods.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive pebbles are sold as inexpensive specimens or lapidary material.

Geological facts

The rounded shape indicates prolonged abrasion, while the cloudy appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions or fractures. It may also be a small piece of quartz-rich vein material.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its hardness—it should scratch ordinary glass but not be scratched by a steel knife—and its lack of cleavage. Common worldwide, especially in stream gravels, beaches, quartz veins, and eroded granite terrains.