mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on Mohs scale, vitreous luster, colorless to varied hues, hexagonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, vitreous luster, colorless to varied hues, hexagonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through cooling magmas or precipitation from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions.
Uses & applications
Widely used in electronics, glassmaking, precision instruments, and as a popular gemstone and mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness scratching glass, lack of cleavage, and characteristic hexagonal crystal habit when well-formed.
