mineral health
Quartz Nut
SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide)
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to tan with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs
- Color
- White to tan with iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to tan with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Forms through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. Often found as weather-worn pebbles in alluvial deposits or riverbeds.
Uses & applications
Industrial uses include electronics, glass making, and abrasives. As a rough specimen, it serves as an educational tool for mineral identification.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'Quarz', which had its origins in Slavic and West Slavonic words meaning 'hard'.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Common in riverbeds, mountains, and desert pavement worldwide.
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