mineral

Clear quartz (rough quartz crystal)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 7; colorless to cloudy white and translucent, with a vitreous luster and trigonal crystal structure. The specimen appears irregularly fractured rather than showing a complete crystal point; quartz lacks cleavage and breaks with a conchoidal fracture.

Identified October 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in fractures and cavities, or during cooling of silica-rich magma. Quartz occurs in rocks of many ages, so the specimen’s age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics, and as a decorative or collecting mineral; clear, well-formed crystals may be cut for jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is the defining mineral of the Mohs hardness scale at 7.

Field identification & locations

Look for glassy luster, hardness sufficient to scratch glass, and no cleavage; common in veins, geodes, and igneous and metamorphic rocks worldwide. The image alone does not establish its locality or whether it is natural versus processed.