mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Clear to milky white/tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Clear to milky white/tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Clear to milky white/tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from cooling magma or hydrothermally in veins. Often found in igneous rocks like granite or concentrated by weathering into sedimentary deposits. Can be billions of years old.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, abrasives, jewelry, and electronics due to piezoelectric properties. Common in construction as aggregate.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to chemical and physical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and glassy appearance. Extremely common in riverbeds and mountainous terrain worldwide.
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