mineral

Tumbled quartz pebble

Quartz (SiO₂), likely iron-stained milky quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; cream to honey-brown color with cloudy translucency, vitreous to waxy luster, and no obvious cleavage. Quartz is trigonal and has a specific gravity of about 2.65.

Identified September 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness 7 Mohs; cream to honey-brown color with cloudy translucency, vitreous to waxy luster, and no obvious cleavage. Quartz is trigonal and has a specific gravity of about 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed when silica-rich fluids crystallized in veins or igneous rocks, with brown coloration from iron-oxide staining; subsequent weathering and stream abrasion rounded it. The specimen’s precise geological age cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and ornamental objects; attractive polished pieces are inexpensive collectibles.

Geological facts

The rounded shape may be natural stream wear or human tumbling. Iron staining can produce yellow, orange, or brown colors without making it a separate mineral species.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy appearance, high hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; a streak test should be white. Quartz occurs worldwide in veins, granites, metamorphic rocks, and river gravels.