mineral

White quartz-rich pebble

Likely quartzite or milky-quartz pebble (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to pale gray, dull-to-waxy luster, rounded by abrasion, with no visible crystals or cleavage; quartz hardness is about 7 Mohs and specific gravity about 2.65. The faint fracture lines and granular texture suggest quartzite, though exact identification requires testing.

Identified August 12, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Probably a weathered and water-rounded fragment of quartzite or vein quartz, released from older metamorphic or igneous rocks and transported to the beach. Its original formation may date from Precambrian to younger geological events, depending on source terrain.

Uses & applications

Common pieces have little commercial value; quartzite is used as aggregate, landscaping stone, and building material, while high-purity quartz has industrial applications.

Geological facts

Quartz resists weathering, so it commonly accumulates as pale beach and stream pebbles. A steel nail should not scratch it; glass is typically scratched by quartz.

Field identification & locations

Look for hardness, lack of cleavage, granular or glassy fracture, and weak reaction to dilute acid. Common worldwide in beaches, river gravels, and areas underlain by quartz veins or metamorphic rocks.