mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

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

Identified April 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It can be found in all types of rocks (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary) across almost all geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), glassmaking, abrasives, gemstone jewelry, and decorative carvings. It is also highly valued in the metaphysical and collecting communities.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'quarz', and the ancient Greeks believed it was ice that had frozen so hard it would never melt.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and characteristic hexagonal crystal habit if intact. Found globally, especially in mountain ranges like the Alps or the Arkansas Ozarks.