mineral

Quartz / Common Opal Transition

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 5.5-7.0 (Mohs); Color: Pale yellow/creamy with potential slight iridescence; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Amorphous to Hexagonal microcrystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.1-2.65

Hardness: 5
Color: Pale yellow/creamy with potential slight iridescence
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified April 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5.5-7.0 (Mohs); Color: Pale yellow/creamy with potential slight iridescence; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Amorphous to Hexagonal microcrystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.1-2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed from the deposition of silica-rich fluids in volcanic vents or sedimentary cavities. This piece appears to be a small chip of microcrystalline quartz or a silicate mineral that precipitated out of solution as groundwater moved through mineral-rich rock.

Uses & applications

Common industrial uses for quartz include glassmaking and electronics; small fragments like this have minimal commercial value and are mostly of personal interest to collectors.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's crust. Small chips like the one shown can often be found in garden beds, driveways (as part of decorative stone), or riverbeds where they have been smoothed by water travel.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by checking if the fragment can scratch glass (indicates hardness > 5.5). Small, sharp-edged chips with a translucent or milky appearance are often silica-based minerals.

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