mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent yellowish-white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Translucent yellowish-white
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn)

Identified May 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent yellowish-white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or within igneous and metamorphic rocks. This specific specimen is a water-worn river or beach pebble, shaped by mechanical erosion over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as decorative gravel or tumbled stones.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Common in riverbeds, beaches, and soil. Collectors look for clarity or unique inclusions.