mineral

Clear quartz crystal

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; colorless to translucent, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal structure, and indistinct cleavage with conchoidal fracture. The specimen appears naturally fractured or partially crystalline rather than polished.

Identified September 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids, pegmatites, and cavities in igneous or metamorphic rocks; individual crystals may range from ancient Precambrian to geologically recent. Exact age and locality cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, electronics, abrasives, optics, and scientific instruments; clear attractive crystals are collected and occasionally cut as gemstones.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and produces piezoelectricity when mechanically stressed. Its transparency and pointed crystal form are characteristic, though this piece may be a broken fragment.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy appearance, lack of metallic luster, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and commonly six-sided prisms or pyramidal terminations. Common worldwide, especially in Brazil, Madagascar, Arkansas, and alpine fissures.