mineral

Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to tan/yellowish due to iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to tan/yellowish due to iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 25, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, likely millions of years old, rounded by fluvial erosion and transport.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glass manufacturing, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), and as an abrasive. Polished pebbles are used in landscaping and aquarium decor.

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'. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage, and its rounded, frosted surface if found in riverbeds. Common worldwide in nearly all geological environments.