mineral

Cloudy Quartz with Mica inclusions

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with accessory Muscovite KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale) for quartz; Color: Off-white, yellowish, and tan with dark streaks; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale) for quartz
Color: Off-white, yellowish, and tan with dark streaks
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 1, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal or igneous processes, often in pegmatites or quartz veins. The inclusions of mica suggest crystallization in a high-aluminum environment during the cooling of magma or through metamorphic hydrothermal fluids.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used widely in construction (sand), electronics (oscillators), glassmaking, and as abrasive media. Specimens with visible inclusions are often kept as educational samples or decorative stones.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Inclusions like the dark mica visible here can provide geologists with a 'snapshot' of the chemical environment at the time of the quartz's formation.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will easily scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Look for the characteristic glassy luster on fresh breaks. It is found globally, particularly in areas with granitic basement rocks or ancient metamorphic belts.

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