mineral

Clear quartz fragment

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically Mohs hardness 7, colorless to milky-white, vitreous luster, transparent to translucent, and hexagonal crystal structure; lacks cleavage and breaks with conchoidal fracture. The specimen appears irregular and possibly naturally fractured or lightly worked.

Identified August 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous, hydrothermal, and metamorphic environments when silica-rich fluids or melts crystallize. Quartz ranges from Precambrian to modern in age and is abundant in veins, granites, pegmatites, and sedimentary rocks.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and construction aggregate; transparent crystals are sold as decorative or metaphysical specimens. This small common fragment has modest commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is the defining mineral of many sandstones and granites. Its lack of cleavage and conchoidal fracture help distinguish it from calcite and gypsum.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by hardness, glassy luster, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife while scratching ordinary glass. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins, pegmatites, and river gravels.