mineral

Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Clear to milky white/pale grey; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal prisms); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Clear to milky white/pale grey
Luster: Vitreous

Identified June 9, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Clear to milky white/pale grey; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal prisms); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or through hydrothermal activity in veins. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust and can be found in almost all geological environments.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in glass manufacturing, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), construction as an abrasive, and in jewelry/watchmaking.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to both chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often remains as sand on beaches.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage (it breaks into curved, shell-like fractures), and its vitreous luster. Commonly found in granite outcroppings or as loose pebbles in riverbeds.