mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Poor (usually exhibits conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless/Transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified June 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of environments, most commonly by crystallizing from igneous magma or hydrothermal veins. It also occurs in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks through secondary mineralization.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in jewelry (faceting and beads), industrial use in electronics for its piezoelectric properties, glassmaking, and high-quality optical components.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. When clear and well-formed, it was historically believed by some cultures to be 'permanent ice.'

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its transparency, its ability to scratch glass (hardness 7), and the presence of conchoidal (shell-like) fracture patterns without distinct flat cleavage planes. Found globally in mountainous regions.