mineral
Tumbled milky quartz pebble
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent gray, vitreous to waxy luster, massive crystalline structure, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity about 2.65. Its smooth oval shape indicates natural water-worn or mechanically tumbled material, with minor iron-oxide staining.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent gray, vitreous to waxy luster, massive crystalline structure, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity about 2.65. Its smooth oval shape indicates natural water-worn or mechanically tumbled material, with minor iron-oxide staining.
Formation & geological history
Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, hydrothermal, and metamorphic fluids; this pebble was later eroded and rounded, or artificially tumbled. Quartz formed throughout Earth’s geologic history, commonly from Precambrian to modern deposits.
Uses & applications
Used for ornamental stones, carvings, countertops, glass, ceramics, and industrial silica; attractive translucent pieces are sold as décor or inexpensive lapidary material.
Geological facts
Milky quartz contains microscopic fluid inclusions or structural defects that scatter light and create its cloudy appearance.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its glassy appearance, lack of cleavage, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and white streak. Common in quartz veins, stream gravels, beaches, and glacial deposits worldwide.
