metamorphic
Vein Quartz in Basalt or Slate
Silicate rock with quartz vein (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 for quartz vein and 3-6 for host rock; vitreous luster on white quartz; smooth, water-worn rounded pebble shape with strong color contrast.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 for quartz vein and 3-6 for host rock; vitreous luster on white quartz; smooth, water-worn rounded pebble shape with strong color contrast.
Formation & geological history
Formed when hydrothermal fluids deposited silica into fractures of a host rock, later weathered and tumbled by water action in a river or beach environment.
Uses & applications
Used mainly as a decorative pocket stone, specimen for amateur rockhounding, or local landscaping gravel.
Geological facts
Contrasting quartz veins in dark host rocks are often called 'zebra stones' or banded pebbles by beachcombers.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by the bright white quartz band cutting sharply across a darker, fine-grained matrix; commonly found in glacial till, riverbeds, and coastal beaches.
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