mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Varies in color from clear to purple, smoky, or milky with a vitreous luster and trigonal crystal system.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Varies in color from clear to purple, smoky, or milky with a vitreous luster and trigonal crystal system.
Formation & geological history
Forms primarily from cooling magma in igneous rocks or through silica precipitation in hydrothermal veins and sedimentary environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in electronics, oscillators, glassmaking, construction materials, and as a popular gemstone and mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating an electrical charge under stress.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), conchoidal fracture, and lack of cleavage. Found globally in almost all geological environments.
