mineral

Clear Quartz Crystal

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white/cloudy; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to white/cloudy
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified March 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white/cloudy; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Typically crystallizes from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins. It is found in geological formations across all ages, most commonly in pegmatites and hydrothermal quartz veins.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in jewelry (as a gemstone), watchmaking (quartz movement), electronics (piezoelectric properties), glassmaking, and industrial abrasives.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify by its six-sided prismatic shape ending in a pyramid, its ability to scratch glass, and its lack of cleavage. Common locations include Brazil, Arkansas (USA), and Madagascar. Collectors look for clarity, lack of inclusions, and intact crystal terminations.

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