mineral

Tumbled yellow quartz pebble

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

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; translucent pale yellow, vitreous to waxy luster, massive granular texture, no obvious cleavage, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity about 2.65. The rounded shape indicates natural stream wear or tumbling.

Identified September 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallized from silica-rich igneous or hydrothermal fluids, then weathered from its parent rock and transported by water; its exact geological age cannot be determined from the photograph. Yellow coloration commonly comes from iron-oxide staining or microscopic inclusions.

Uses & applications

Used for ornamental stone, lapidary cabochons, countertops, glass, ceramics, and electronics; attractive transparent pieces may be sold as citrine-like material, though this specimen appears ordinary quartz rather than gem-grade citrine.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Test with a steel file or knife: genuine quartz should resist scratching; it should scratch glass but not be scratched by it. Common in river gravels worldwide, especially areas underlain by granite, veins, or quartz-rich metamorphic rocks.