mineral

Quartz (Smoky Quartz variant)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Clear to brownish-grey. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Indistinct (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Clear to brownish-grey
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 30, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Clear to brownish-grey. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Indistinct (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of magma or from hydrothermal veins. Smoky varieties often gain their color from natural irradiation of trace aluminum impurities over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics (due to piezoelectric properties). Varieties like smoky quartz are popular in jewelry and metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'Quarz', which has roots in Slavic words meaning 'hard'.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of cleavage planes (breaks like glass). Commonly found in granite pegmatites and mountain ranges worldwide.

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