mineral
Clear Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 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)
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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.
