mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically colorless or white, 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, typically colorless or white, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Forms primarily from cooling magma in igneous rocks, precipitation in hydrothermal veins, and deposition in sedimentary environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in electronics for oscillators, glass manufacturing, abrasives, and as a popular gemstone and mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating electricity under mechanical stress.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its high hardness, inability to be scratched by steel, and distinct hexagonal crystal habit when well-formed.
