mineral

Clear quartz crystal fragment

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; colorless to pale smoky/amber; vitreous luster; hexagonal crystal structure, commonly showing conchoidal fracture and no cleavage. The pictured piece appears small, translucent, and irregularly broken rather than a complete crystal.

Identified August 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids, pegmatites, and igneous or metamorphic rocks; individual fragments may be geologically ancient, commonly Paleozoic or older depending on host rock.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, electronics, abrasives, foundry materials, and jewelry; clear attractive crystals are collected and sometimes cut as gemstones.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, producing an electrical charge under pressure.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy luster, lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; common worldwide, especially in Brazil, Madagascar, the Alps, and U.S. pegmatites. Exact identification is uncertain from the image alone.