igneous
Quartz with Mica inclusion
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Muscovite/Biotite inclusions
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to translucent with black flaky inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- White to translucent with black flaky inclusions
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to translucent with black flaky inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. Often found in granitic pegmatites. Geological age ranges from Precambrian to Cenozoic depending on the specific deposit site.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative specimens for collectors, in gemstone carvings, or industrially for glassmaking and electronics (if high purity quartz).
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Inclusions like the dark mica seen here are often called 'internal maps' by geologists to determine the mineral's formation history.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and the lack of cleavage. Look for the black, flaky sub-metallic texture of mica. Commonly found in mountainous regions or riverbeds downstream from granitic outcrops.
