mineral

Tumbled quartz-rich pebble

Microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), possibly milky quartz or chalcedony

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Pale cream-white, opaque to slightly translucent, with a dull-to-waxy luster and smooth water-worn surface; quartz has Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity about 2.65. The rounded shape indicates natural transport or tumbling.

Identified August 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely weathered from a quartz vein or quartz-bearing igneous/metamorphic rock and rounded in a stream, beach, or gravel deposit; its exact geological age cannot be determined visually. It is not clearly classifiable as an igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock from the image alone.

Uses & applications

Commonly collected as a curiosity, craft stone, or inexpensive lapidary material; quartz is also used extensively in glass, ceramics, electronics, and construction aggregate.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is highly resistant to weathering, allowing it to persist as rounded pebbles.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its very light color, glassy/waxy appearance, hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; a streak or acid test is generally unhelpful. Common worldwide in streambeds, beaches, and gravel deposits.