mineral

White Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Opaque white (milky quartz). Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white (milky quartz)
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified April 6, 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 the Mohs scale. Color: Opaque white (milky quartz). Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of magma or hydrothermal activity. This specific specimen has been smoothed and rounded by water erosion (alluvial process), likely in a riverbed or coastal environment.

Uses & applications

Used in landscaping, construction aggregate, glass making, and as a decorative stone. High-purity quartz is used in electronics and watches.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its white color from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage, and its smooth, water-worn texture. It is extremely common in riverbeds and on beaches worldwide.