mineral
White Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to opaque; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when smoothed); Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Milky white to opaque
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy (when smoothed)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to opaque; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when smoothed); Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or as a primary constituent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. This specific specimen has been smoothed and rounded by either river/ocean erosion or mechanical tumbling.
Uses & applications
Commonly used for landscaping, decorative garden stones, meditation stones, fish tanks, and as an abrasive in industrial sandblasting.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky white quartz gets its appearance from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it can scratch glass and steel) and lack of cleavage. Often found in abundance on beaches, in riverbeds, or as decorative gravel in urban environments.
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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Sandstone with Mineral Veining or Crust
Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Gypsum (variety Selenite or Alabaster)
Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
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