mineral
Quartz (Milky Quartz / Quartz Crystal)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, translucent to opaque white color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal/hexagonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity around 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, translucent to opaque white color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal/hexagonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity around 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of geological environments including igneous pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and metamorphic rocks under various temperatures and pressures.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, decorative carvings, electronics (as piezoelectric material), glassmaking, and mineral collections.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating an electric charge under mechanical stress.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass), glass-like to greasy luster, lack of distinct cleavage, and hexagonal crystal habit when fully formed. Found worldwide in places like Brazil, Madagascar, the US, and the Alps.
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