The Million-Dollar Question

Black Beach Pebbles – What Color Are They?

Black Beach Pebbles - Grey River Rock
Black river rock – also known as Grey river rock or Grey Mexican beach pebbles

Are your Mexican beach pebbles black? Or are your Mexican beach pebbles grey? This is a question that we receive often.  The answer is “both.”  Read on to learn why the same Mexican river rock is called both black and grey by people in various parts of the county.

Black Beach Pebbles: Are They Really Black?

When people think of smooth, rounded beach pebbles to place in their front yards, they often refer to these landscaping rocks as black beach pebbles. However, the truth is that there are no truly black beach pebbles on the beaches of Mexico.

What we call “black beach pebbles” are a range of grey shades.  They look matte grey with bluish undertones when dry, and shiny black when wet.  Hence, the same stones are also accurately referred to as grey beach pebbles and blue beach pebbles.  It is the same thing.

Grey Beach Pebbles: Light or Dark?

Customers also sometimes ask for light grey beach pebbles or dark grey beach pebbles.  Again, usually they are after the mix of grey shades that the industry calls “black beach pebbles.”  In those cases where customers truly need only the lightest or darkest shades of grey pebbles, we can discuss a custom sorting order.

Black River Rock: Is There Such a Thing?

Adding to the confusion, in many parts of the county Mexican beach pebbles are referred to as black river rock.  Technically, river rock is a completely different product.  It is local stone mechanically mined from dry river beds, often in Arizona and Texas.  River rock typically comes in earth-shade colors, such as brown, buff, and sunburst. 

How can you tell Mexican beach pebbles and river rock apart?  Fortunately, this is rather easy. Beach pebbles are completely smooth and rounded; many of them are flat.  You can walk on beach pebbles barefoot without any concerns.

River rock, on the other hand, is not smooth.  These stones tend to have rugged edges, they are less uniform in appearance, and you cannot walk on them barefoot. In addition, river rock is not available in black / grey color.

More Questions About Landscape Pebbles?

If you have an idea about what your landscape should look like, but you are not completely sure what landscaping rock to choose, contact us.  We are experts in all things Mexican beach pebbles.  With years of experience in the industry, we can provide advice on your particular project, make calculations for you, and save you many hours of research.  Call us or drop us a line to get started with your landscape overhaul today!

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