mineral
Quartz Mineral Specimens
Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white (milky quartz); Luster: Vitreous/glassy; Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Colorless to white (milky quartz)
- Luster
- Vitreous/glassy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white (milky quartz); Luster: Vitreous/glassy; Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of environments, primarily through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks across all geological ages.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics (due to piezoelectric properties). These small chips are commonly used in lapidary work, terrariums, and as starter specimens for mineral collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is known as rock crystal, while impurities create varieties like amethyst, citrine, and rose quartz.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (it can scratch glass and steel) and lack of cleavage (breaks like glass). These samples show characteristic milky and clear properties typical of garden-variety quartz found globally.
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