igneous
Rounded quartz-rich pebble
Likely milky quartz or quartzite (SiO₂), identification uncertain from image
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectWhite to pale gray, opaque, smooth water-worn surface with faint dark mineral inclusions; glassy to dull luster. Mohs hardness about 7; no obvious cleavage; quartz is trigonal and specific gravity is about 2.65.
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Physical properties
White to pale gray, opaque, smooth water-worn surface with faint dark mineral inclusions; glassy to dull luster. Mohs hardness about 7; no obvious cleavage; quartz is trigonal and specific gravity is about 2.65.
Formation & geological history
May be a vein-quartz pebble or a quartzite fragment rounded by stream or beach transport. Quartz formed in geological veins or metamorphic rocks over varied ages, then weathered and redeposited.
Uses & applications
Primarily a decorative or educational specimen; suitable for landscaping, crafts, and tumbling, but not typically valuable as jewelry material.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is highly resistant to weathering, allowing it to persist as rounded pebbles after softer minerals erode.
Field identification & locations
Test with a steel file or glass: genuine quartz should scratch glass and resist a steel knife. Common worldwide in riverbeds, beaches, glacial deposits, and quartz veins; exact identification may require a fresh fracture or hardness test.
