igneous/metamorphic mineral specimen
Quartz with Mica/Chlorite inclusions
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with phyllosilicate inclusions
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White/milky with dark green/grey inclusions, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White/milky with dark green/grey inclusions, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites where silica-rich fluids cool and solidify; the dark inclusions represent minerals like biotite mica or chlorite that grew with the quartz. These occur across many geological ages, heavily found in Precambrian shields to Mesozoic orogenic belts.
Uses & applications
Common quartz is used in construction (sand/aggregate), glass making, and as a refractory material. Specimen grade pieces are used for lapidary work, cabochons, and as desktop display pieces for mineral collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Specimens like this often form 'phantom' crystals if the internal inclusions outline a previous growth stage of the crystal.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its lack of cleavage (it breaks in curved shards). It is commonly found in mountainous regions or riverbeds near igneous intrusions. Collectors look for the definition of the dark inclusions against the white matrix.
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