mineral

Clear Quartz (Rock Crystal)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified February 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed via hydrothermal activity and cooling silica-rich magma; found globally in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments throughout geological time.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), manufacturing glass, optical instruments, jewelry as a gemstone, and as decorative collector specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Historically, the Greeks believed crystal quartz was ice that had frozen so hard it would never melt.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hexagonal point shape, lack of cleavage (conchoidal fracture), and ability to scratch glass easily. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and geodes.

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