mineral

Quartz (Milky or Clear Quartz fragment)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Clear to translucent white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Clear to translucent white
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Clear to translucent white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It is found in all three rock types (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary) and can be over 1 billion years old or relatively young depending on the local geology.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, construction as an aggregate, and widely in jewelry and gemstone carving.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to both chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often remains as grains of sand on beaches.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage (it breaks into irregular, curved shards), and its glassy luster. It is ubiquitous globally, particularly in mountainous regions and riverbeds.

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