mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, clear to white or colored with impurities, vitreous (glassy) luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, clear to white or colored with impurities, vitreous (glassy) luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of geological environments including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, often precipitated from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions
Uses & applications
Used in electronics, oscillators, glassmaking, abrasives, and as a gemstone or ornamental mineral
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, after feldspar, and exhibits piezoelectric properties
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), conchoidal fracture, and lack of cleavage; found globally in almost every rock type
