mineral

Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white/cloudy; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to white/cloudy
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified June 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white/cloudy; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. It is found in all types of geological environments and can be from any geological age.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (oscillators), abrasives, jewelry (gemstones), and as a common collectible.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'Quarz', which had its origins in Slavic and West Slavic words meaning 'hard'.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and glassy luster. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and as crystals in cavities of rocks worldwide.