mineral

Clear quartz crystal (likely milky/included quartz)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; colorless to cloudy white with internal fractures or inclusions; vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal structure, and indistinct cleavage with conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity is about 2.65.

Identified August 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in cavities, veins, and pegmatites; individual crystals may range from geologically recent to billions of years old. The specimen appears natural and unpolished, though its exact variety cannot be confirmed from the image.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and metaphysical collecting; clear gem-quality quartz may be cut for jewelry. Commonly found in hydrothermal veins, geodes, pegmatites, and alluvial deposits worldwide.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, producing an electrical charge under pressure. Field identification is supported by its hardness, glassy luster, and lack of prominent cleavage.

Field identification & locations

Common localities include Brazil, Madagascar, Arkansas, the Alps, and many granite or metamorphic terrains. Scratch testing should be avoided on valuable specimens; quartz will scratch ordinary glass but not be scratched by a steel knife.