mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless/Transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified July 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms through the cooling of silica-rich magma or through hydrothermal activity in veins and geodes. It is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments worldwide and can date back billions of years.

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It can generate an electric charge when mechanical stress is applied, a property known as piezoelectricity.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (will scratch glass and steel), transparent appearance, and lack of cleavage. Common in riverbeds, mountains, and mines globally.