mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through cooling magmas or precipitation from silica-rich solutions.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in electronics, glassmaking, oscillators, and as a popular gemstone or collector mineral.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating an electric charge under mechanical stress.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its high hardness, lack of cleavage, and characteristic conchoidal fracture; common worldwide.
