mineral

Tumbled quartz pebble

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; cream to honey-yellow, translucent to opaque, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and no visible cleavage. It appears naturally rounded or water-worn, with possible iron-oxide staining and surface weathering.

Identified September 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely a quartz-rich pebble formed by erosion and transport from quartz veins, granite, or metamorphic rocks; its exact geological age cannot be determined from the image. Quartz commonly crystallizes in igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermal environments.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and construction aggregate; attractive pieces are sold as inexpensive specimens or cabochons.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and durable minerals, and its resistance to weathering allows it to accumulate in riverbeds and beaches.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its hardness, lack of cleavage, pale color, and glassy fracture; it should scratch ordinary glass but not be scratched by a steel knife. Common worldwide, especially in quartz-vein and granitic terrains.