mineral

Quartz Crystal

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; Color is typically clear, white, or light yellowish-brown; Luster is vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure is trigonal; Conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage; Specific gravity is 2.65.

Identified July 30, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of geological environments, commonly precipitating from silica-rich hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and as a primary constituent of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics, oscillators, glass manufacture, countertops, decorative items, and lapidary work.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties, meaning it can generate an electric charge under mechanical stress.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and distinct conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide in nearly every geological setting.