mineral

Clear Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Colorless or transparent. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal structure: Trigonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Colorless or transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified July 30, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Colorless or transparent. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal structure: Trigonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of geological environments, frequently crystallizing from hydrothermal veins and silica-rich solutions, as well as in igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics, oscillators, gemstones, decorative carvings, and optical components.

Geological facts

Clear quartz is also known as rock crystal and is one of the most abundant and versatile minerals in the Earth's continental crust.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and vitreous luster. Found globally, especially in Brazil, Arkansas (USA), and Madagascar.