mineral

Tumbled quartz pebble

Quartz (SiO₂), likely milky or iron-stained quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; off-white to pale yellow with a waxy-to-glassy luster and no visible cleavage. It appears smoothly tumbled, with cryptocrystalline or massive quartz texture and typical specific gravity near 2.65.

Identified August 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz formed from silica-rich fluids or crystallized in igneous and metamorphic rocks; yellow coloration may result from iron-oxide staining. The geological age cannot be determined from the photograph, and tumbling is human processing.

Uses & applications

Common as a decorative pebble, craft material, and inexpensive collector specimen; quartz is also important in glass, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and has strong resistance to scratching. The smooth oval shape reflects prolonged mechanical tumbling rather than natural crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its hardness, lack of cleavage, glassy fracture, and inability to be scratched by steel; a scratch test should be done cautiously. Similar-looking calcite is softer and scratches readily. Common worldwide.