mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to cloudy white
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified July 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

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

Uses & applications

Extensively used in electronics for its piezoelectric properties (watches, radios), as an abrasive, in glass making, and as a popular semi-precious gemstone in jewelry and metaphysical collections.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. When absolutely pure, it is perfectly clear; the 'cloudy' areas in many crystals are caused by tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during formation.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its characteristic six-sided prism shape terminating in a pyramid, its ability to scratch glass, and its lack of cleavage (it breaks with a conchoidal fracture). Common in areas with granitic bedrock or river gravels.