mineral

Clear Quartz Crystal Cluster

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent to milky white; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/None (shows conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Colorless/Transparent to milky white
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified March 29, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions cooling in cavities or veins of igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. This process can occur over millions of years at high temperatures and pressures within the Earth's crust.

Uses & applications

Used in industry for electronic oscillators (watches, clocks, radios), glass manufacturing, and abrasives. In jewelry, it is used for beads and faceted stones. Widely collected as metaphysical stones and decorative specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is piezoelectric, meaning it generates an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress. Famous localities include Arkansas, USA and Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass, its six-sided hexagonal crystal termination, and lack of true cleavage. It is found globally in pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and mountain ranges. For collectors, look for clarity and undamaged points.

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