mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Creamy white to pale orange/tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Creamy white to pale orange/tan
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 13, 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: Creamy white to pale orange/tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in a wide variety of environments, most commonly from the cooling of magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is a water-worn pebble likely eroded from a larger vein and smoothed by river or beach action.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as decorative aggregate in landscaping or aquarium gravel.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'Quarz', which has Slavic origins meaning 'hard'.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its lack of cleavage, and its resistance to weathering. Commonly found in riverbeds, beaches, and soil worldwide.