mineral
White quartz pebble
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂), likely milky quartz
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, granular or cryptocrystalline texture, and no cleavage. The smooth oval shape indicates natural water abrasion or tumbling.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, granular or cryptocrystalline texture, and no cleavage. The smooth oval shape indicates natural water abrasion or tumbling.
Formation & geological history
Quartz crystallized from silica-rich igneous or hydrothermal fluids, commonly during Precambrian to younger geological events; the pebble was later weathered from bedrock and transported by water.
Uses & applications
Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, and electronics; attractive polished pebbles are used for decoration, crafts, and inexpensive collecting.
Geological facts
Milky quartz appears cloudy because microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or mineral impurities scatter light. Its high hardness allows it to scratch ordinary glass.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its hardness, pale color, glassy/waxy appearance, and lack of cleavage; a steel knife should not scratch it, though a quartz crystal should. Common worldwide in quartz veins, granitic terrains, river gravels, and beaches.
