mineral

Quartz (Raw and Water-worn)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to milky white (opaque); Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to milky white (opaque)
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified July 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of environments, most commonly from the cooling of silica-rich magma or through hydrothermal activity in veins. These specimens show a mix of crystal fragments and one highly water-worn river pebble.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as a popular collector's mineral and gemstone.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is chemically and physically resistant to weathering, which is why it often survives as pebbles in stream beds.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass and steel, lack of cleavage, and hexagonal crystal habits. Commonly found in most igneous and metamorphic terrains worldwide.