mineral
Tumbled quartz pebble with iron-oxide inclusions
Quartz (SiO₂), stained by hematite/goethite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; translucent milky-white body with rusty orange-red inclusions, vitreous-to-waxy luster, and no visible cleavage. Quartz has a trigonal crystal structure; the rounded form is mechanically tumbled or naturally water-worn.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; translucent milky-white body with rusty orange-red inclusions, vitreous-to-waxy luster, and no visible cleavage. Quartz has a trigonal crystal structure; the rounded form is mechanically tumbled or naturally water-worn.
Formation & geological history
Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, hydrothermal, and metamorphic fluids; iron oxides later stain fractures or inclusions. The specimen’s geological age is indeterminate and may span millions to billions of years.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative stone, craft material, and inexpensive collector specimen; quartz is also important in glass, ceramics, electronics, and abrasives. This small piece has minimal jewelry value unless notably clear or patterned.
Geological facts
The orange-red coloration is characteristic of hematite or goethite coatings and inclusions rather than the quartz itself. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its glassy translucence, conchoidal fracture, lack of cleavage, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; a steel blade should not scratch it. Common sources include quartz veins, gravels, pegmatites, and hydrothermal deposits worldwide.
