mineral

Clear Quartz Crystal

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless/Transparent
Luster: Vitreous

Identified July 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or magma in veins and geodes. Found in all three rock types but most prominent in igneous pegmatites. Geological age ranges from billions of years to recent formations.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics as piezoelectric oscillators, for glass making, abrasives, jewelry, and widely collected as metaphysical or decorative crystals.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is chemically and physically very resistant to weathering, which is why it is the primary component of most beach sand.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its six-sided hexagonal prism shape ending in a pyramid, its ability to scratch glass, and its lack of cleavage. Common in Arkansas (USA), Brazil, and Madagascar.