mineral

Yellow Quartz / Quartzite Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent yellow to honey-brown; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Translucent yellow to honey-brown
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy

Identified April 1, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or as a primary mineral in igneous rocks. This specific specimen appears to be a water-worn, tumbled pebble likely eroded from its source and smoothed by river or beach action over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in industrial glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), and as an abrasive. Yellow varieties like this are often tumbled for decorative gravel, landscaping, or low-cost metaphysical 'healing stones'.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The yellow coloration is often due to iron inclusions or natural irradiation during the stone's geological history.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its lack of cleavage. In the field, look for translucent stones with a 'greasy' or 'glassy' surface that cannot be scratched by a steel knife. It is found globally in riverbeds and glacial deposits.

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