mineral
Quartz (Clear Quartz)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Colorless to white
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal fluids. Found in abundance throughout the Earth's crust of various geological ages.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics for its piezoelectric properties, glassmaking, construction (as sand/quartzite), and extensively in jewelry and gemstone collecting.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the Greek word 'krystallos', meaning ice.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture (curved, shell-like breaks). Common in high-silica rocks like granite.
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