mineral
Quartz (White/Milky)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous/glassy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Milky white to translucent
- Luster
- Vitreous/glassy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous/glassy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms in wide range of temperatures and pressures from cooling magma (igneous) or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. This specimen appears to be a weathered fragment of vein quartz.
Uses & applications
Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, jewelry (semiprecious), and construction as an aggregate.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the Greek word 'krustallos', meaning ice.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and steel, lack of cleavage, and white streak. Found globally in almost all geological environments.
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Mineral/Rock
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Biotite Schist
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