mineral

Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Milky white to translucent with iron oxide (orange/brown) staining; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 Mohs
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified April 6, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Often crystallizes from cooling magma or precipitates from hydrothermal veins. This specimen likely comes from a hydrothermal vein.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), glassmaking, abrasives, construction as an aggregate, and widely collected as mineral specimens.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and glassy appearance. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and as veins within host rocks like granite or schists.