mineral

White quartz pebble

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂), likely milky quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

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.

Identified August 16, 2026More mineral →

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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.