mineral

Quartz (Milky/Clear variety)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

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

Identified June 2, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust and can be found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments across all geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used in glass making, ceramics, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), construction as an abrasive, and as a gemstone in jewelry or for metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to both chemical and physical weathering.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), glassy luster, and lack of cleavage (breaks like glass into curved surfaces). Found globally in a wide variety of terrains.