mineral

Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically clear or white, can be pink (rose) or smoky; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: typically clear or white, can be pink (rose) or smoky
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified May 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms through the crystallization of molten magma (igneous), precipitation from hydrothermal veins, or through the weathering and metamorphic processes of other rocks. Found in all three major rock types across all geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in the glass industry, electronics (piezoelectric properties), construction as an abrasive, and in jewelry and gemstone collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'quarz', which originally meant 'hard'.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and glassy appearance. Common worldwide in sand, grit, and rock veins. To identify, try to scratch a piece of glass; if it scratches, it is likely quartz.