mineral
Quartz Druze
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to transparent crystals on a tan matrix, Luster: Vitreous/glassy on crystal faces, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to transparent crystals on a tan matrix, Luster: Vitreous/glassy on crystal faces, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed by the precipitation of silica from hydrothermal fluids or groundwater within cavities of host rocks. This specific specimen shows a 'druze' or 'drusy' coating, which refers to a layer of tiny crystals that form within a geode or on rock surfaces.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for mineral collecting, metaphysical purposes, and as a decorative display piece. Larger, high-quality slabs of drusy quartz are sometimes cut for jewelry.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The term 'druse' comes from the German word 'Druse', meaning a weathered hole in a rock lined with crystals.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness (it will scratch glass) and the characteristic tiny, glittering, pyramid-shaped crystal faces. It is commonly found in volcanic areas, pegmatites, and sedimentary environments globally.
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