
mineral
Quartz Crystal Cluster
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white (milky); Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal (six-sided prisms); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Colorless to white (milky)
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white (milky); Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal (six-sided prisms); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of environments, most commonly by hydrothermal precipitation from hot, silica-rich fluids in veins or cavities within igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary host rocks.
Uses & applications
Highly valued as a collector specimen, used in jewelry (faceting and beads), industrial use in glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics (piezoelectric properties).
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth. Its name is derived from the German word 'quarz', which originally meant 'hard'. Natural quartz crystals are piezoelectric, meaning they generate an electric charge when mechanically stressed.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass, its six-sided crystal points with pyramid-like terminations, and its lack of cleavage. Found worldwide, particularly in Arkansas (USA), Brazil, and Madagascar.
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