Rock Identifier
Tumbled white quartz or quartzite pebble (Quartz (SiO₂), possibly massive quartzite) — mineral
mineral

Tumbled white quartz or quartzite pebble

Quartz (SiO₂), possibly massive quartzite

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White, opaque to slightly translucent, with a dull-to-glassy luster and no visible crystal faces; quartz hardness is Mohs 7, while quartzite is similarly hard and granular. The rounded shape indicates natural abrasion or tumbling, and the dark marks may be surface inclusions or scratches.

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Physical properties

White, opaque to slightly translucent, with a dull-to-glassy luster and no visible crystal faces; quartz hardness is Mohs 7, while quartzite is similarly hard and granular. The rounded shape indicates natural abrasion or tumbling, and the dark marks may be surface inclusions or scratches.

Formation & geological history

Quartz formed from silica-rich fluids or igneous/metamorphic processes; quartzite formed when quartz sandstone was metamorphosed. The specimen’s precise geological age and origin cannot be determined from the image alone.

Uses & applications

Used as a decorative pebble, lapidary material, aggregate, and source of silica; attractive pieces may be used in crafts or simple jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and has a distinctive hardness that can scratch ordinary glass. A steel knife generally will not scratch it, though testing may damage the specimen.

Field identification & locations

Common in river gravels, beaches, veins, and weathered quartz-bearing rocks worldwide; identify by white color, hardness, conchoidal fracture, and lack of acid reaction. A streak, scratch, or translucency test can distinguish it from calcite or ceramic.