mineral

Clear quartz crystal

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 7; colorless to milky-white, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal structure, and indistinct cleavage with conchoidal fracture. The specimen appears natural but partly cloudy and fractured.

Identified August 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids or melts crystallize in cavities, veins, and igneous or metamorphic rocks; quartz occurs from Precambrian terrains to modern hydrothermal deposits. Exact age and locality cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and construction aggregate; clear crystals are used for mineral collecting, ornaments, and occasionally jewelry. This appears to be a modest specimen rather than gem-grade material.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, producing an electrical charge under pressure. Its six-sided prisms and pointed terminations are characteristic when well formed.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by hardness— it scratches glass—plus its glassy luster, lack of cleavage, and commonly hexagonal habit; avoid confusing it with calcite, which is softer and cleaves readily. Common localities include Brazil, Madagascar, Arkansas, the Alps, and many worldwide hydrothermal veins.