mineral

Small iron-stained quartz pebble

Quartz (SiO₂), with yellow-brown iron-oxide staining

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Pale gray to cream, with a waxy-to-glassy luster and irregular, rounded shape. Quartz has Mohs hardness 7, a trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65; the photo does not show enough detail to confirm the material or its hardness.

Identified October 3, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely quartz weathered from quartz-rich rock and rounded during transport in sediment or a stream; iron oxides can stain its surface. Quartz forms in many rock types and across a wide range of geological ages.

Uses & applications

Quartz is widely used in glass, electronics, and construction; this small, unverified pebble is mainly of modest collecting interest.

Geological facts

The yellow-brown areas may be iron-oxide coatings rather than part of the quartz itself. The reported West Virginia location makes a weathered quartz pebble plausible, but the image alone cannot establish provenance.

Field identification & locations

Look for hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and irregular fracture; these help distinguish quartz from softer lookalikes. Commonly found in stream gravels and quartz-rich rocks.