mineral

Clear Quartz Fragment

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Colorless to white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Colorless to white
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified February 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Colorless to white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in a wide range of environments, primarily by crystallizing from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins. It is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks of all geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, construction sand, gemstones, and as ornamental healing crystals.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its piezoelectric properties mean it can generate an electric charge when mechanical stress is applied.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass (Hardness 7), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal (shell-like) fractures. It is found globally in river beds, mountain outcrops, and beach sand.

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