mineral

White quartz pebble (likely milky quartz)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, and typically massive rather than visibly crystalline. It has conchoidal fracture, no cleavage, and a specific gravity near 2.65; the rounded shape indicates tumbling or water wear.

Identified August 25, 2026More mineral →

Explore White quartz pebble (likely milky quartz) in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, metamorphic, or hydrothermal fluids and commonly survives erosion as stream or beach pebbles. The specimen’s precise age and source cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, engineered stone, electronics, abrasives, and aggregate; attractive pieces are sold as decorative or healing stones. This small, common pebble has minimal commercial value.

Geological facts

Milky quartz appears cloudy because microscopic fluid inclusions or structural defects scatter light. It can scratch ordinary window glass and steel but is not scratched by a steel knife.

Field identification & locations

Confirm with a scratch test on an inconspicuous area, avoiding damage: quartz should scratch glass, unlike calcite or marble. Common sources include hydrothermal veins, granite-rich gravels, and metamorphic terrains worldwide.