mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

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

Identified June 26, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of environments, most commonly from the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks across all geological ages.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in electronics (oscillators), optical instruments, glassmaking, abrasives, and as a popular gemstone for jewelry and metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the Greek word 'krystallos', meaning ice, as ancient Greeks believed it was ice frozen so hard it would never melt.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), conchoidal fracture, and lack of cleavage. Look for it in pegmatites, riverbeds, and as a major component in granitic rocks worldwide.