Rock Identifier
Clear quartz crystal (likely quartz fragment) (Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)) — mineral
mineral

Clear quartz crystal (likely quartz fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Colorless and transparent with a vitreous luster; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, no true cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. The specimen appears to be a small naturally fractured or tumbled fragment rather than a complete crystal.

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Physical properties

Colorless and transparent with a vitreous luster; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, no true cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. The specimen appears to be a small naturally fractured or tumbled fragment rather than a complete crystal.

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, hydrothermal, and metamorphic fluids; individual crystals may form from Precambrian to modern geological settings. Exact locality and age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and precision oscillators; clear attractive pieces are sold as inexpensive gem or mineral specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and commonly produces six-sided prismatic crystals with pyramidal terminations. It can scratch ordinary steel or glass, helping distinguish it from softer transparent materials.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy luster, hardness, lack of cleavage, and typically hexagonal crystal habit; common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, Arkansas, and the Alps. The image alone cannot exclude clear calcite, glass, or another transparent mineral without testing.