mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color typically white, milky, or clear with occasional iron staining (yellow/brown), vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color typically white, milky, or clear with occasional iron staining (yellow/brown), vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of geological environments, most commonly as a primary mineral in igneous rocks like granite and pegmatites, in hydrothermal veins, and as detrital grains in sedimentary rocks. Can range in geological age from Precambrian to recent.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics (oscillators, watches), glass manufacturing, abrasives, gemstone carvings, and mineral collecting.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust. Its high resistance to weathering makes it the primary component of sand in rivers and deserts.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its hardness (scratches glass), conchoidal fracture, and lack of cleavage. Found worldwide in almost all rock types and frequently collected by amateur rockhounds.
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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments
Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate
sedimentary
Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)
FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
mineral
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral