mineral

White quartz pebble

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to translucent with a vitreous luster; Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and trigonal crystal structure. The specimen appears rounded and naturally or artificially tumbled.

Identified September 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed in silica-rich igneous or metamorphic rocks, then liberated by weathering and rounded by transport; quartz commonly ranges from Precambrian to recent deposits. Exact identification and age require testing.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive pieces are sold as inexpensive decorative or lapidary material.

Geological facts

White coloration usually results from microscopic fluid inclusions or fractures scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically resistant minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify by hardness—quartz scratches ordinary glass—plus its glassy luster and lack of cleavage; calcite, a common look-alike, is much softer and reacts with acid. Common in river gravels, beaches, veins, granite, and metamorphic rocks.