mineral
Quartz (Common or Milky)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white/translucent with yellowish iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Colorless to white/translucent with yellowish iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white/translucent with yellowish iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust and can be found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments.
Uses & applications
Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, jewelry (semiprecious), and as a component in construction materials like concrete.
Geological facts
Quartz is chemically and physically very resistant to weathering. It is the primary constituent of most white beach sand and is found on every continent.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its lack of cleavage, and its characteristic greasy luster on fractured surfaces. Often found as rounded pebbles in riverbeds or as veins in bedrock.
