Amorphous Solid
Glass / Silicon Dioxide (Man-made)
SiO2 (Amorphous Silicon Dioxide)
Hardness: 5-6 (Mohs scale), Color: Clear/Greenish, Luster: Vitreous, Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline), Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: ~2.5
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-6 (Mohs scale), Color: Clear/Greenish, Luster: Vitreous, Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline), Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: ~2.5
Formation & geological history
Created through the heating of silica sand (quartz) mixed with soda ash and limestone to a molten state, then cooled rapidly to prevent crystallization. While the image shows a modern bottle, glassmaking dates back to roughly 3500 BCE in Mesopotamia.
Uses & applications
Used universally for container packaging (bottles/jars), window panes, optical lenses, and art. In the context of the image, it is used for food-grade beverage containment.
Geological facts
Glass is a 100% recyclable material that can be melted and reformed indefinitely without loss of quality. The greenish tint often seen in thick glass is due to iron oxide impurities in the sand.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its transparency, smooth curved surfaces, and sharp conchoidal (shell-like) fracture edges if broken. Found globally in urban environments and recycling centers. Not a naturally occurring geological specimen, though similar to volcanic Obsidian.
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Other amorphous solid specimens
Obsidian
Volcanic Glass (predominantly SiO2)
igneous
Man-made Jewelry (Metal and Glass/Plastic)
Synthetic Alloy and Amorphous Solid (SiO2/Polymer)
not a rock
Borosilicate Glass (Manufactured)
SiO2 + B2O3 (Silicon dioxide and Boron trioxide)
Synthetic/Amorphous Solid
Ambergris
Ambra grisea (Metabolic byproduct)
Organic (Geological relative)
Cultured Marble (Synthetic)
Polymer-matrix composite (typically calcium carbonate in polyester resin)
Synthetic / Composite Material
Apache Tear
Hydrated Obsidian (Natural Volcanic Glass)
igneous