mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Specific Gravity: 2.65; No cleavage.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless/Transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified June 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Specific Gravity: 2.65; No cleavage.

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through the cooling of molten rock or by precipitation from hydrothermal veins. It is found in geological formations across all ages.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), manufacturing glass, jewelry, abrasives, and as a popular specimen for mineral collectors.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glass-like appearance, inability to be scratched by a steel knife, and conchoidal (shell-like) fracture patterns. Found worldwide, notably in Brazil, Arkansas, and the Alps.