mineral

Milky quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to translucent, vitreous luster, irregular fracture with possible conchoidal edges; Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, hexagonal crystal structure. The orange-brown areas may be iron-oxide staining or attached host material.

Identified September 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids, igneous melts, or sedimentary veins; its exact age and formation setting cannot be determined from the photograph. Commonly forms in quartz veins and pegmatites.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and construction aggregate; attractive pieces are collected but this fragment is likely low-value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is a major component of granite, sandstone, and many metamorphic rocks.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glassy appearance, hardness—scratching ordinary glass—and lack of cleavage; distinguish it from calcite, which is softer and cleaves readily. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins and granitic terrain.