mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to white
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified July 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of environments, most commonly by the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks across all geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), optics, glassmaking, abrasives, jewelry (as a gemstone), and as decorative specimens in collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It exhibits piezoelectricity, meaning it generates an electric charge when subjected to mechanical stress.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), conchoidal fracture, and lack of true cleavage. It is found globally, particularly in mountainous regions and riverbeds.