mineral

Weathered quartz-rich pebble, possibly milky quartz

Quartz (SiO₂), provisionally identified

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Cream to pale orange, opaque to translucent, dull/waxy surface from weathering or abrasion; no visible crystal faces or cleavage. Quartz hardness is about 7 Mohs, vitreous when freshly broken, and specific gravity is about 2.65.

Identified August 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely a rounded fragment eroded from quartz vein, quartzite, or felsic rock and transported by stream or surface weathering. Quartz commonly formed in hydrothermal veins or igneous rocks, generally over a wide range of Precambrian to younger ages.

Uses & applications

Common quartz has low commercial value as a hand specimen but is important in glass, ceramics, abrasives, and electronics; attractive translucent pieces may be collected or polished.

Geological facts

The orange coloration may come from iron-oxide staining rather than a distinct orange mineral. The photograph cannot reliably distinguish quartz from pale chalcedony, quartzite, or a weathered feldspar-rich rock.

Field identification & locations

A fresh chipped surface, glass-scratching test, and streak test would help: quartz should not be scratched by a steel knife and should leave no colored streak. Around 7.8°N, 37.2°E in Ethiopia, quartz-bearing volcanic and metamorphic rocks are plausible, but locality alone is not diagnostic.