mineral
Clear Quartz Sphere
Crystalline Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Colorless/Transparent
- Luster
- Vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Quartz forms from cooling silica-rich magma or hydrothermal veins. This specimen has been artificially shaped and polished into a sphere from a natural crystal.
Uses & applications
Used for decorative purposes, meditation practices (crystal balls), jewelry, and as collector specimens. Quartz is also vital in electronics for its piezoelectric properties.
Geological facts
Clear Quartz is often called 'Rock Crystal.' The word 'quartz' comes from the German 'quarz' and its ancestors, which were originally Slavic. Large flawless spheres are historically used for divination.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), glass-like luster, and hexagonal crystal habit when unworked. Found globally in all rock types, especially abundance in Brazil and Arkansas, USA.
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