mineral

Quartz crystal fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Transparent to translucent, colorless, and glassy with irregular/conchoidal fracture; Mohs hardness 7, hexagonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65.

Identified September 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Transparent to translucent, colorless, and glassy with irregular/conchoidal fracture; Mohs hardness 7, hexagonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Likely a naturally broken quartz crystal formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in veins or cavities, commonly during igneous or metamorphic activity; precise age and locality cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and watches; clear crystals are also sold as inexpensive mineral specimens and occasionally cut as gemstones.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, producing an electrical charge under pressure.

Field identification & locations

Look for hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, a glassy luster, lack of cleavage, and possible six-sided prism faces or pointed terminations. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and geodes.