mineral

Quartz (Clear Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to white
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified May 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal fluids. Found in abundance throughout the Earth's crust of various geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics for its piezoelectric properties, glassmaking, construction (as sand/quartzite), and extensively in jewelry and gemstone collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the Greek word 'krystallos', meaning ice.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture (curved, shell-like breaks). Common in high-silica rocks like granite.