mineral

Quartz (Quartzite fragment)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent grey; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent grey
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified May 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent grey; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of environments, most commonly from the cooling of silica-rich magma or through hydrothermal activity. This specific piece appears to be a weathered fragment of vein quartz or quartzite, formed under high pressure and heat in metamorphic environments or precipitated in rock fissures.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glassmaking, electronics (oscillators), abrasives, construction aggregates, and as gemstones or healing crystals.

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 in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass and steel), lack of cleavage, and glassy appearance on fresh surfaces. It is ubiquitous in most mountain ranges and riverbeds globally.