mineral
Quartz (Milky/Smoky mix)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: transluscent white to yellowish-tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- transluscent white to yellowish-tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: transluscent white to yellowish-tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed from cooling silica-rich magma or through hydrothermal precipitation in veins. These specimens appear to be weathered nodules or vein fragments.
Uses & applications
Used widely in glass making, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as decorative garden stones or collectible mineral specimens.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is clear, but impurities and structural defects provide the wide range of colors seen in types like amethyst, citrine, and smoky quartz.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Often found in riverbeds, mountains, and near igneous outcrops globally.
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