mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; color is typically transparent to white (clear quartz); vitreous (glassy) luster; trigonal crystal system; conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage; specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; color is typically transparent to white (clear quartz); vitreous (glassy) luster; trigonal crystal system; conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage; specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of geological environments, most commonly in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. It crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal veins and magmatic melts.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics, glassware, precision instruments, gemstones, and construction materials.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. Its piezoelectric properties make it essential in watches and electronic oscillators.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), conchoidal fracture, and lack of cleavage. Found worldwide in nearly every geological setting.
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Schist
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Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
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