mineral
Clear Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless/Transparent, Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless/Transparent, Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from cooling silica-rich magma or hydrothermal solutions in veins and geodes. It can be found in rocks of all geological ages and environments, most commonly in igneous pegmatites.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics (oscillators), optical instruments, glass manufacturing, construction (as sandpaper/abrasives), and widely in jewelry and metaphysical collecting.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the Greek word 'krustallos', meaning 'ice', because ancient Greeks believed it was permanently frozen ice.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage, and its conchoidal (shell-like) fracture pattern. It's found worldwide in mountain ranges, riverbeds, and as beach sand.
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Green Apatite on Albite
Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]
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Epidote
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