Mineral

Beach Pebble (likely Quartz or Chalcedony)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent white to tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal (Cryptocrystalline if chalcedony); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Translucent white to tan
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified March 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent white to tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal (Cryptocrystalline if chalcedony); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal fluids. This specific specimen has been geologically tumbled and rounded by wave action and sand abrasion over years to centuries on a shoreline.

Uses & applications

Common beach pebbles of this type are used in landscaping, as tumbling rough for hobbyists, and in industrial glass making if high purity. Specifically aesthetic pieces are used in 'worry stones' or jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Specimens found on beaches have often traveled hundreds of miles from their original source via rivers before being shaped by the ocean.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its smooth, rounded 'water-worn' texture, and translucent appearance. Found on beaches globally, especially those with high-energy wave environments.

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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

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Nephrite Jade

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Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

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