mineral

Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless to white/milky, Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy, Crystal structure: Trigonal (hexagonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65

Identified June 25, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless to white/milky, Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy, Crystal structure: Trigonal (hexagonal), 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 one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust and can be found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, construction sand, and as a gemstone in jewelry or for decorative collecting.

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 is the primary component of most beach sand.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it can scratch glass and steel), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal (shell-like) fracture. Commonly found in mountains, riverbeds, and beach deposits worldwide.