mineral

Quartz / Quartzite

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Translucent to reddish-brown due to iron staining; Luster: Vitreous/Greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Translucent to reddish-brown due to iron staining
Luster: Vitreous/Greasy

Identified June 21, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen appears to be a weathered fragment of vein quartz or a highly metamorphosed quartzite, common in various geological eras.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as a component in concrete or construction aggregate.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering, which is why fragments like this often survive in soil and riverbeds.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass and steel) and lack of cleavage. It is found globally across all rock types and geographic environments.