
mineral
Tumbled quartz-rich pebble, likely milky quartz with iron-oxide staining
Quartz (SiO₂), possibly with hematite/goethite inclusions or surface coating
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent gray with rusty red-brown patches, vitreous to dull luster, and no visible cleavage. Rounded and polished/tumbled, with granular or cryptocrystalline texture; specific gravity about 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent gray with rusty red-brown patches, vitreous to dull luster, and no visible cleavage. Rounded and polished/tumbled, with granular or cryptocrystalline texture; specific gravity about 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Likely formed in a silica-rich vein or quartz-bearing igneous/metamorphic rock, with iron minerals added during weathering; geological age cannot be determined from the image. Its smooth shape results from human tumbling or natural abrasion.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative tumbled stone, lapidary material, and inexpensive craft/jewelry component; quartz is also important in glass, electronics, and industrial abrasives.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is highly resistant to weathering, commonly surviving as stream and beach pebbles.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its glassy appearance, high hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; reddish areas suggest iron oxides. Common sources include quartz veins, granitic terrains, metamorphic rocks, and gravel deposits worldwide.
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