mineral

Quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Pale yellowish-white, translucent, and vitreous; likely hardness 7 Mohs, with no visible cleavage and irregular conchoidal fracture. The rough fragment appears massive rather than showing distinct crystals.

Identified September 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through crystallization from silica-rich melts or hydrothermal fluids, and through metamorphic recrystallization. Its age cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, foundry applications, abrasives, electronics, and construction aggregate; attractive transparent pieces may be collected, though this specimen appears low-grade.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and has a distinctive hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass. The yellow tint may reflect iron staining, inclusions, or surface coating rather than true citrine coloration.

Field identification & locations

Test by scratching glass and checking for a white streak; quartz should not react with dilute acid. Common worldwide, especially in granite and pegmatite regions, hydrothermal veins, and quartz-rich sands.