mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to colorless (milky quartz); Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White to colorless (milky quartz)
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to colorless (milky quartz); Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of environments, most commonly from cooling igneous magmas or hydrothermal veins. It is found in crustal rocks of all ages and is extremely resistant to weathering.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in glass making, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, as a flux in metallurgy, and as a gemstone/ornamental stone.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is known as rock crystal, while Milky Quartz (shown) gets its appearance from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass/steel), conchoidal fracture (curved glass-like breaks), and lack of cleavage. Very common in granitic mountains and riverbeds.
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Other mineral specimens
Gneiss or Schist
Gneiss or Mica Schist with Garnet
Metamorphic
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Tumbled granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
igneous
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
igneous
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
igneous