mineral

Quartz Crystal Cluster

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to milky white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to milky white
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified June 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to milky white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in igneous veins or metamorphic environments. These crystals grow into open cavities or vugs over thousands of years. Found in a wide variety of geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (as oscillators), glassmaking, abrasives, and as a popular specimen for gemstone collectors and metaphysical practitioners.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and hexagonal crystal shapes. Often found in riverbeds, mountain outcrops, and mines. Common worldwide.