mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Clear to translucent white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

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

Identified July 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Clear to translucent white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

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

Uses & applications

Used extensively in electronics for its piezoelectric properties, in glassmaking, as an abrasive, and widely in jewelry and metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to both mechanical and chemical weathering. Clear varieties are often called 'rock crystal'.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its 6-sided hexagonal prism shape ending in a pyramid, its hardness (it can scratch glass), and its lack of cleavage. Commonly found worldwide, with major deposits in Brazil and Arkansas, USA.