mineral

Clear Quartz Crystal Cluster

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless to white/opaque, Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65

Identified April 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless to white/opaque, Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions cooling within cavities or veins of igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. It can form over millions of years at high temperatures and pressures.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), manufacturing of glass, optics, jewelry, and widely collected as a metaphysical or ornamental specimen.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is piezoelectric, meaning it can generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its characteristic six-sided crystals ending in a pyramid shape, its ability to scratch glass (Hardness 7), and its lack of cleavage. Found globally, especially in Brazil, Arkansas (USA), and Madagascar.

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