Mineral / Metamorphic
Quartz / Quartzite
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to tan/light brown due to impurities, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture, Specific gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to tan/light brown due to impurities, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture, Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from the recrystallization of quartz-rich sandstone through heat and pressure (metamorphism) or as a massive mineral deposit in hydrothermal veins. Typical geological ages range from Precambrian to Cenozoic.
Uses & applications
Used as a raw material in the glass industry, as an abrasive, in construction as crushed stone, and sometimes as low-grade lapidary material or landscaping stone.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is chemically stable and physically resistant, which is why it often remains as rounded pebbles in riverbeds and on beaches long after other minerals have weathered away.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass and steel), lack of reaction to acid, and its massive, non-foliated appearance. Common worldwide in gravel pits, riverbeds, and mountain outcrops.
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