mineral

Tumbled milky quartz pebble

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically Mohs hardness 7, white to translucent with a waxy or vitreous luster; lacks visible cleavage and has a hexagonal crystal structure, though tumbling rounds the specimen. Specific gravity is about 2.65.

Identified September 12, 2026More mineral →

Explore Tumbled milky quartz pebble in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in silica-rich veins, cavities, and igneous or metamorphic rocks when silica-bearing fluids crystallize; its geological age may range from ancient Precambrian to recent. The smooth shape indicates human tumbling or natural water abrasion.

Uses & applications

Used as a decorative pebble, lapidary material, craft stone, and occasional jewelry component; quartz is also important industrially in glass, ceramics, electronics, and abrasives.

Geological facts

Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or defects scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its white translucency, hardness, glassy-to-waxy surface, and lack of cleavage; it should scratch ordinary glass but not be scratched by a steel knife. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins and alluvial gravels.