mineral
Quartz Sand Grain
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, clear to milky white color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and no cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, clear to milky white color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and no cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the mechanical and chemical weathering of parent rocks like granite and pegmatite, often transported by water or wind over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in glass manufacturing, construction aggregates, sandblasting, and electronics.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals in Earth's continental crust, surviving multiple cycles of erosion and deposition.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness, resistance to chemical weathering, and conchoidal fracture. Commonly found in beaches, deserts, and sandstone formations.
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Other mineral specimens
Gneiss or Schist
Gneiss or Mica Schist with Garnet
Metamorphic
Limonite
FeO(OH)•nH2O
mineral
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Feldspar
Feldspar Group (Tectosilicate, e.g., KAlSi3O8)
mineral
Tumbled granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
igneous
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
igneous