mineral

Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless, white, or smoky (milky in this specimen); Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless, white, or smoky (milky in this specimen)
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified April 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments globally, dating from the Precambrian to recent times.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), glass manufacturing, abrasives, jewelry (gemstones), and as decorative collector specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is piezoelectric, meaning it generates an electric charge when mechanical stress is applied.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (cannot be scratched by steel), glassy luster, and lack of cleavage planes. Common in riverbeds, mountains, and gravel pits.