mineral
Yellow Quartz River Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide inclusions
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Honey-yellow to pale tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when wet); Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Honey-yellow to pale tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy (when wet)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Honey-yellow to pale tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when wet); Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or within igneous pegmatites. This specimen has been smoothed and rounded over millions of years by fluvial (river) erosion, which has concentrated iron oxides into the micro-fissures, giving it a yellow-orange hue.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for landscape decoration, as an aquarium substrate, or for lapidary tumbling. Quartz is also vital in the electronics industry for its piezoelectric properties.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Specimens like this are often referred to as 'citrine quartz' colloquially, though true citrine is rare; most yellow pebbles get their color from external iron staining.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Look for the characteristic conchoidal (shell-like) fractures on chipped surfaces. It is found in riverbeds and glacial deposits worldwide.
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