mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to translucent white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Tan to translucent white
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified May 26, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to translucent white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. These specific small pebbles are often the result of mechanical weathering and transport by water in fluvial or coastal environments.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), and as an abrasive. Small rounded pebbles are often used in decorative landscaping and aquarium gravel.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often remains as small pebbles long after other minerals have eroded away.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and its lack of cleavage. These specimens are ubiquitous in riverbeds, beaches, and soil worldwide.