mineral
White quartz pebble
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectLikely milky quartz, smoothly water-worn or tumbled; hardness 7, white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, conchoidal fracture, no cleavage, trigonal crystal structure, specific gravity about 2.65.
Identified More mineral →
Explore White quartz pebble in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Likely milky quartz, smoothly water-worn or tumbled; hardness 7, white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, conchoidal fracture, no cleavage, trigonal crystal structure, specific gravity about 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Quartz formed in igneous or hydrothermal environments and later weathered into a rounded pebble; its exact geological age and source cannot be determined from the photograph.
Uses & applications
Used for decorative stones, landscaping, glass and ceramic manufacture, abrasives, and occasionally cabochons or carvings.
Geological facts
The cloudy appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or other trapped impurities. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and durable minerals.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its glassy/waxy appearance, lack of cleavage, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; hardness testing should be done inconspicuously. Common worldwide in veins, granite-derived sediments, river gravels, beaches, and glacial deposits.
