mineral

Quartz Pebble (with Iron Staining)

Crystalline Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent with orange/brown iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent with orange/brown iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (weathered)

Identified June 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or through the crystallization of magma. This specimen shows signs of mechanical weathering and transport, likely found in a riverbed or coastal environment. The orange hue is due to iron oxide staining from groundwater.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as decorative gravel. Tumbled specimens are used in jewelry and crystal healing collections.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often survives as rounded pebbles long after other minerals have eroded.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and translucent appearance. It is ubiquitous in gravel pits, beaches, and mountain streams globally.

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Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

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mineral