mineral

Clear Quartz Crystal Cluster

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to milky white; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to milky white
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified May 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to milky white; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments, most commonly from hydrothermal veins as silica-rich fluids cool. Growth can occur over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), glassmaking, precision instruments, jewelry, and as a popular collector's specimen.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the Greek word 'krustallos', meaning ice, because the ancients believed it was permanently frozen water.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass, its six-sided prismatic crystal shape, and lack of cleavage. Commonly found globally, with major deposits in Brazil, Arkansas (USA), and Madagascar.