mineral

Quartz Pebble (with potential iron inclusions)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless to milky white with yellowish-brown iron staining, Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy, Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal system), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)

Identified April 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or within igneous and metamorphic rocks. This specific specimen has been chemically or mechanically weathered into a rounded pebble, likely in a riverbed or coastal environment.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in construction as aggregate, in glassmaking, and in electronics due to its piezoelectric properties. Tumbled pebbles are used for decoration and landscaping.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'quarz', which originally meant 'hard'. The yellow staining is likely limonite or iron oxide that has permeated cracks in the stone.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass (Hardness 7), lack of cleavage, and rounded pebble shape indicating water transport. It is found globally in almost all geological environments.

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