mineral

White quartz pebble (likely milky quartz)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 7; white to translucent with a vitreous luster and indistinct cleavage, commonly displaying conchoidal fracture. The rounded shape indicates natural or tumbled abrasion; gray patches may be inclusions or surface staining.

Identified September 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous and hydrothermal fluids, and durable fragments accumulate in stream and beach gravels. Quartz is geologically widespread, forming from Precambrian rocks through the present.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive pieces are sold as inexpensive lapidary or educational specimens.

Geological facts

Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities that scatter light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically resistant minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its white translucent body, glassy luster, lack of obvious cleavage, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; a steel nail should not scratch it. Common worldwide in quartz veins, granite-derived gravels, and riverbeds.