mineral

Quartz Crystal Cluster

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Colorless to milky white (clear quartz). Luster: Vitreous (glass-like). Crystal structure: Trigonal/hexagonal prisms terminated with rhombohedra. Cleavage: Indistinct/none, exhibits conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to milky white (clear quartz)
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified July 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms primarily in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites through the precipitation of silica-rich fluid under moderate to high temperatures and pressures. Commonly found in granite pegmatites and metamorphic rocks worldwide.

Uses & applications

Widely used in electronics for its piezoelectric properties (quartz oscillators in clocks and circuit boards), optics, abrasives, glassmaking, crystal healing, decor, and mineral collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its unique piezoelectric property allows it to generate an electrical charge when mechanical stress is applied, making it essential to modern timekeeping devices.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its hexagonal crystal habit, striations perpendicular to the long crystal axis, glass-like luster, and hardness of 7 (scratches glass easily, cannot be scratched by a steel knife). Commonly found in places like Arkansas (USA), Brazil, Madagascar, and the Alps.