mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to milky white/translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (often rounded in riverbeds); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to milky white/translucent
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to milky white/translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (often rounded in riverbeds); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture.

Formation & geological history

Formed from the crystallization of silica-rich magma or through hydrothermal veins. This specimen appears to be water-worn, resulting from transport in a river or beach environment over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a source of silica for glassmaking, abrasives, electronics (piezoelectric properties), and as decorative landscaping stone.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is known as rock crystal, and historical cultures often believed quartz was permanently frozen ice.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass but steel won't scratch it) and conchoidal (shell-like) fracture. Commonly found in riverbeds, beaches, and mountainous regions worldwide.