mineral

Likely quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Colorless to milky-clear, vitreous luster, translucent, and showing irregular fracture rather than obvious cleavage; Mohs hardness 7, hexagonal crystal structure, specific gravity about 2.65. The small piece may be ordinary vein quartz or a broken quartz crystal.

Identified September 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids precipitate in veins, cavities, and sedimentary or igneous environments; quartz occurs from ancient Precambrian rocks to modern hydrothermal deposits. Exact origin and age cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, engineered stone, abrasives, electronics, and construction aggregate; clear attractive crystals are collected or cut as gemstones. This small fragment has little commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is the principal component of sandstone and many granites. Its lack of cleavage and conchoidal fracture help distinguish it from calcite and feldspar.

Field identification & locations

Test cautiously: it should scratch ordinary glass but not be scratched by a steel nail; a streak test is white. Common localities include hydrothermal veins, granite pegmatites, quartz beaches, and alluvial gravels.