mineral

Likely quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂), possibly milky quartz or quartz-rich rock

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small cream-white, translucent fragment with vitreous-to-waxy luster and irregular fracture; apparent hardness about 7 Mohs, no obvious cleavage, and likely specific gravity near 2.65. The image is insufficient to confirm crystal form or distinguish quartz from calcite/feldspar.

Identified August 9, 2026More mineral →

Explore Likely quartz fragment in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz commonly crystallizes from silica-rich igneous and hydrothermal fluids, or accumulates in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks; specimens may range from Precambrian to recent. This piece may be a natural chip or weathered fragment.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used in glass, electronics, abrasives, engineered stone, and jewelry; ordinary fragments have negligible commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz typically scratches glass, while calcite does not; calcite effervesces with dilute hydrochloric acid, providing a useful distinction.

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide in veins, granite, pegmatite, sandstone, and metamorphic rocks. Test hardness against glass and inspect for hexagonal crystal faces or conchoidal fracture; photographic identification is tentative.