mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless/Transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 21, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of environments, most commonly by cooling from molten rock (igneous) or by precipitation from hydrothermal veins. It is found in geological formations of almost all ages, from Precambrian to modern sediments.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in electronics for its piezoelectric properties, glassmaking, abrasives, and as a popular gemstone for jewelry and metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure clear quartz is often called 'Rock Crystal,' a name derived from the Greek word 'krystallos,' meaning ice, as ancient Greeks believed it was ice frozen so hard it would never melt.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and clear-to-white color with glassy luster. It is commonly found in gravel pits, riverbeds, and as veins in mountain ranges worldwide.