mineral
Quartz on Host Rock
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to colorless (quartz) on dark grey matrix; Luster: Vitreous/Glassy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White to colorless (quartz) on dark grey matrix
- Luster
- Vitreous/Glassy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to colorless (quartz) on dark grey matrix; Luster: Vitreous/Glassy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal processes where silica-rich fluids crystallized in veins or cavities within a host rock, typically igneous or metamorphic, during late-stage cooling.
Uses & applications
Quartz is used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), and as a gemstone or collector specimen.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel knife) and glassy luster. Common globally in varied geological terrains.
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Mineral/Rock
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Green Apatite on Albite
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mineral