mineral

Yellow Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Yellowish-brown to honey yellow. Luster: Vitreous to waxy when water-worn. Crystal structure: Hexagonal/trigonal. Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Yellowish-brown to honey yellow
Luster: Vitreous to waxy when water-worn

Identified July 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Yellowish-brown to honey yellow. Luster: Vitreous to waxy when water-worn. Crystal structure: Hexagonal/trigonal. Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture.

Formation & geological history

Formed from hydrothermal veins or pegmatites and later eroded, rounded, and smoothed by river or beach water action over thousands to millions of years.

Uses & applications

Commonly collected as river rocks or tumble-polished for decorative purposes, wire-wrapped jewelry, and landscaping.

Geological facts

Water-worn quartz pebbles are among the most resilient minerals on Earth's surface due to quartz's resistance to both chemical weathering and physical abrasion.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its translucent yellow hue, smooth oval shape, and high hardness (will scratch glass). Commonly found along riverbeds, gravel bars, and ocean beaches worldwide.