mineral

Bull Quartz (White Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified March 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids cooling in igneous veins or metamorphic environments. It is found in deposits ranging from the Precambrian to roughly 100 million years ago, depending on the mountain-building event.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, silicon production for semiconductors, and as a durable material in construction and landscaping. Also popular as a base material for decorative stone carvings.

Geological facts

Commonly known as 'bull quartz' among miners because it rarely contains valuable gold or silver veins, making it 'stubborn' or worthless for precious metal extraction. It is the most abundant mineral found on the Earth's continental crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel, its milky appearance, and lack of flat cleavage planes. Found globally in quartz veins, riverbeds, and as inclusions in granite. It is an excellent indicator of past geological heat and pressure.