mineral
Quartz fragment
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂), likely milky or smoky quartz
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; translucent gray-brown to colorless, with a glassy luster and irregular conchoidal fractures. Quartz is trigonal and lacks cleavage; the apparent surfaces are natural breaks or weathering.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; translucent gray-brown to colorless, with a glassy luster and irregular conchoidal fractures. Quartz is trigonal and lacks cleavage; the apparent surfaces are natural breaks or weathering.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermal environments as veins, cavities, and sedimentary grains. The specimen’s exact geological age and locality cannot be determined from the image.
Uses & applications
Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; transparent attractive pieces may be cut or collected as gemstones.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is highly resistant to weathering. Iron or fluid inclusions can produce the gray, brown, and cloudy appearance.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its glassy appearance, lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; a steel knife should not scratch it. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins and igneous rocks.
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