
mineral
Clear Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Colorless/Transparent
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It can form at virtually all temperatures.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics (oscillators), manufacturing of glass, 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 in response to applied mechanical stress, which is why it is used in watches.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its characteristic conchoidal (shell-like) fracture edges. Commonly found in granite outcroppings or as river pebbles.
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