mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on Mohs scale, variable color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, variable color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments from cooling magma or precipitation from hydrothermal solutions.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics, glassmaking, oscillators, abrasives, and as a gemstone or specimen in mineral collections.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals in the Earth's continental crust, exhibiting piezoelectric properties.
Field identification & locations
Readily identified by its distinct crystal habit, high hardness, and lack of cleavage, commonly found worldwide in pegmatites and veins.
