mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, hexagonal crystal system, and a specific gravity of 2.65. Colors vary widely including clear, white, gray, purple, pink, and yellow depending on impurities.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, hexagonal crystal system, and a specific gravity of 2.65. Colors vary widely including clear, white, gray, purple, pink, and yellow depending on impurities.
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of geological environments, most notably as a primary constituent of igneous rocks like granite, metamorphic rocks like quartzite, and as hydrothermal vein deposits over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in electronics, oscillators, glassmaking, abrasive materials, gemstone carving, and as a popular mineral specimen for collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and widely distributed minerals on Earth's continental crust. Its piezoelectric properties make it essential for keeping time in quartz watches.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. Found globally in almost every geological setting.
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FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
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Septarian Pebble
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Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
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