mineral

Small tumbled quartz pebble (probable milky quartz)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Likely Mohs hardness 7, pale cream to translucent, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and no visible cleavage; quartz has a trigonal crystal structure. The image is too low-resolution for confident identification, and it could also be a small feldspar or calcite fragment.

Identified August 30, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermal environments; individual grains and pebbles may be billions of years old, though this piece appears naturally or mechanically rounded. Common sources include veins, granites, pegmatites, and river or beach gravels.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and engineered stone; attractive pieces are collected or used in inexpensive jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz commonly shows conchoidal fracture rather than cleavage and can scratch ordinary glass. Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions or fractures.

Field identification & locations

Test cautiously for glass-scratching ability and lack of cleavage; quartz will not fizz in dilute hydrochloric acid. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins and gravel deposits.