mineral

White quartz pebble

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Likely a small rounded quartz fragment or tumbled specimen: white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and hexagonal crystal structure when crystalline. The surface appears possibly polished or naturally smoothed.

Identified August 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through crystallization from silica-rich melts or hydrothermal fluids, and by erosion into durable pebbles. Its age cannot be determined from the image and may range from recent sediment to billions of years.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, electronics, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and ornaments; attractive varieties are used in jewelry. This small common specimen has little commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is highly resistant to weathering. White color commonly results from microscopic fluid inclusions or fractures scattering light.

Field identification & locations

Identify by hardness, glassy luster, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; it should scratch ordinary glass. Common worldwide, especially in river gravels, veins, granites, and quartz-rich metamorphic rocks.