mineral

Quartz (with probable host rock)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White/milky to clear with brown inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: White/milky to clear with brown inclusions
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified June 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed via hydrothermal activity where silica-rich fluids cooled and crystallized in veins or cavities within a host rock. This specimen appears to be a small vein fragment or geode portion.

Uses & applications

Metaphysical collecting, construction aggregate when found in bulk, and high-purity varieties are used in electronics and glass manufacturing.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is chemically stable and physically durable, allowing it to survive weathering processes that destroy other minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its ability to scratch glass and lack of cleavage. Look for the white, crystalline appearance often embedded in darker, crumbly host rock. Common in almost all geological environments worldwide.

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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Schist

Metamorphic

Epidote

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Nephrite Jade

Nephrite

Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]

mineral