igneous
Weathered quartz-rich pebble
Likely granitic or quartz-feldspar rock; exact identification is uncertain from the image
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectSmall rounded, pale gray-white specimen with granular texture, dull-to-glassy luster, and brown surface staining from weathering. Likely hardness about 6–7 Mohs; quartz has no cleavage, while feldspar shows two cleavages.
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Physical properties
Small rounded, pale gray-white specimen with granular texture, dull-to-glassy luster, and brown surface staining from weathering. Likely hardness about 6–7 Mohs; quartz has no cleavage, while feldspar shows two cleavages.
Formation & geological history
Probably a water-worn fragment of granite, granitic pegmatite, or quartz-bearing metamorphic rock, formed deep in Earth and later exposed and rounded by erosion. Its geological age cannot be determined visually and may range from Precambrian to recent source material.
Uses & applications
As an ordinary pebble it has little industrial or jewelry value, though similar quartz-rich rocks are used as aggregate, landscaping stone, and construction material.
Geological facts
The white grains may be quartz and feldspar, while the brown coating is likely iron-oxide weathering. A fresh broken surface would provide a much more reliable identification.
Field identification & locations
Common in streambeds, beaches, glacial deposits, and weathered uplands. Look for visible interlocking grains; quartz scratches glass, whereas feldspar is commonly cloudy and cleaves cleanly.
