mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless/Transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. It crystallizes from silica-rich magma or precipitates from hydrothermal veins. Found in various geological ages ranging from Precambrian to recent.

Uses & applications

Widely used in electronics for its piezoelectric properties (watches, radios), glassmaking, abrasives, and as a popular gemstone for jewelry and metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is known as rock crystal and was once believed by ancient Greeks to be permanently frozen ice.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its ability to scratch glass, lack of cleavage, and hexagonal crystal habits. Found globally; look for it in point-growth clusters or translucent pebbles in stream beds.