mineral

Clear quartz crystal (likely quartz fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Colorless to translucent, with a vitreous luster and conchoidal fracture; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The small rounded shape suggests it may be tumbled, naturally worn, or a broken crystal fragment.

Identified August 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, hydrothermal, and metamorphic fluids; individual crystals can range from ancient Precambrian material to geologically recent deposits. The photograph alone cannot establish its age or exact variety.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, electronics, abrasives, engineered stone, and scientific instruments; clear attractive pieces are used as inexpensive display specimens or jewelry. Typical value is low unless exceptionally clear, large, or well-formed.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and has piezoelectric properties, producing an electrical charge under pressure. It can resemble clear calcite or glass, but quartz is substantially harder than ordinary glass.

Field identification & locations

Common in veins, granite, pegmatites, sandstone, and metamorphic rocks worldwide, especially Brazil, Madagascar, Arkansas, and the Alps. A steel knife should not scratch quartz; bubbles would suggest glass, while a hardness test and crystal faces help confirm it.