mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and hexagonal crystal system. Color ranges from clear to milky white with brownish iron staining.
Identified More mineral →
Explore Quartz in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and hexagonal crystal system. Color ranges from clear to milky white with brownish iron staining.
Formation & geological history
Forms primarily from cooling magma in igneous pegmatites and hydrothermal veins, as well as precipitating in sedimentary environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in electronics for oscillators, glass manufacturing, abrasives, and as a popular gemstone or lapidary material.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating electricity under mechanical stress.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its hardness of 7, which easily scratches glass, and its distinct conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide in nearly every geological environment.
