Rock Identifier
Tumbled quartz pebble (Quartz (SiO₂), likely colorless or milky quartz) — mineral
mineral

Tumbled quartz pebble

Quartz (SiO₂), likely colorless or milky quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 7; transparent to translucent, colorless-gray, with vitreous luster and no cleavage. It appears polished/tumbled, so natural crystal faces and fracture surfaces are absent.

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Physical properties

Mohs hardness 7; transparent to translucent, colorless-gray, with vitreous luster and no cleavage. It appears polished/tumbled, so natural crystal faces and fracture surfaces are absent.

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermal fluids; its source age cannot be determined from the image. Tumbled fragments commonly originate from quartz veins, pegmatites, or quartz-rich sediment and are mechanically polished.

Uses & applications

Used for lapidary crafts, jewelry, decorative stones, and as a collector specimen; quartz is also important industrially in glass, electronics, and abrasives.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and exhibits conchoidal fracture. A true quartz piece should scratch ordinary glass but not be scratched by a steel knife.

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins, pegmatites, river gravels, and beaches. Confirm with hardness, glassy luster, lack of cleavage, and a specific gravity near 2.65; the image alone cannot exclude glass.