mineral

Quartz Crystal Fragment

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale yellow to off-white/translucent. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal System: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale yellow to off-white/translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale yellow to off-white/translucent. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal System: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of geological environments, including igneous pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and metamorphic rocks. Created through the crystallization of silica-rich fluids.

Uses & applications

Quartz is widely used in electronics (piezoelectric applications), glassmaking, abrasives, jewelry, and gemstone/specimen collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust. Small translucent or pale yellowish fragments like this are extremely common in gravel, quartz veins, and riverbeds.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its ability to scratch glass (Hardness 7), lack of true cleavage, shell-like (conchoidal) fracture, and vitreous luster. Found globally in almost all rock types.