mineral

Quartz Crystal

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Clear to milky white/brownish (smoky); Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Clear to milky white/brownish (smoky)
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified May 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. Large specimens like this usually grow in pegmatites or open cavities (vugs) over thousands to millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), glassmaking, abrasives, jewelry, and as decorative museum or collector specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust. Giant crystals like this one can weigh several tons and often exhibit 'phantom' layers showing stages of growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hexagonal point, inability to be scratched by steel, and lack of cleavage. Found globally in mountainous regions like the Alps, Brazil, and Arkansas, USA.