sedimentary
Quartz Sand
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; commonly clear, white, gray, or yellowish due to impurities; vitreous to dull luster; trigonal crystal system; no cleavage with conchoidal fracture; specific gravity of around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; commonly clear, white, gray, or yellowish due to impurities; vitreous to dull luster; trigonal crystal system; no cleavage with conchoidal fracture; specific gravity of around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the weathering, erosion, and transportation of quartz-rich rocks like granite, deposited in environments such as beaches, deserts, and riverbeds over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in glassmaking, construction (as a component of concrete and mortar), foundry casting, abrasive manufacturing, and hydraulic fracturing in the oil and gas industry.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals on Earth's continental crust, able to resist weathering longer than almost any other mineral.
Field identification & locations
Found worldwide in coastal regions, riverbeds, dunes, and alluvial deposits; identified by its high hardness (scratches glass) and resistance to chemical weathering.
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