mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white (milky); Luster: Vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Colorless to white (milky)
- Luster
- Vitreous
Identified More mineral →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white (milky); Luster: Vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins; occurs in all temperatures and environments from igneous to metamorphic rocks throughout earth's history.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), jewelry, gemstones, and abrasive materials.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to both chemical and physical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage, and its characteristic greasy-to-glassy luster. Frequently found in riverbeds, gravel pits, and mountainous regions.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)
Metamorphic Rock
![Green Apatite on Albite (Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]) — mineral](https://media.rockidentification.com/2391a63f-fb20-47d5-af9a-2035851eb32e-thumbnail.jpg)
Green Apatite on Albite
Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]
mineral
Epidote
Epidote - Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)3(SiO4)3(OH)
mineral