mineral

Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Clear to white with reddish iron staining; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Clear to white with reddish iron staining
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified June 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins. Found in all types of geological environments (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary) across most geological eras.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, electronics (piezoelectric properties), construction as an aggregate, and as a gemstone or specimen for collectors.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is known as rock crystal, while this specimen shows iron oxide staining common in surface finds.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (strikes sparks with steel, scratches glass) and lack of cleavage. Found globally in riverbeds, mountains, and deserts.