mineral

Quartz (Common or Milky Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to tan/pinkish; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to tan/pinkish
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified April 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to tan/pinkish; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes or from the cooling of silica-rich magma. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust, found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, ceramics, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as a common landscape or decorative stone. High-quality specimens are used in jewelry and crystal collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is chemically very stable and resistant to weathering, which is why it often remains as pebbles or sand after other minerals have eroded.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel pocket knife and its lack of cleavage (it breaks in irregular, glass-like shards). It is found globally in riverbeds, mountains, and beaches.

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