mineral

White quartz pebble or chip

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂), possibly milky quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small rounded, pale-white specimen with a glassy to dull luster; apparent hardness about 7 Mohs, no obvious cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. Crystal structure is trigonal, though individual crystal faces are not visible at this scale.

Identified September 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely weathered quartz derived from quartz-rich sandstone, vein quartz, or chert-bearing gravel. Around 34.5°N, 89.8°W in northern Mississippi, transported quartz pebbles are plausible in alluvial and terrace gravels; age is indeterminate but the source rocks may be Paleozoic or older.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and construction aggregate. This tiny piece has negligible commercial or jewelry value.

Geological facts

The image cannot reliably distinguish quartz from a small piece of white chert, calcite, or man-made glass. A scratch test and acid test would improve identification.

Field identification & locations

If it scratches ordinary glass but is not scratched by a steel knife, quartz is likely. It should not fizz in dilute hydrochloric acid; calcite fizzes readily. Common locations include stream gravel, sandstone-derived soil, and quartz veins.