mineral

Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Color ranges from colorless and white to yellow, milky, or smoky. It exhibits a vitreous to greasy luster, hexagonal crystal system, and has no true cleavage, instead breaking with a conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity is approximately 2.65.

Identified August 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in a wide variety of geological environments. It is a major component of igneous rocks like granite, metamorphic rocks like quartzite, and sedimentary rocks like sandstone. It often crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal veins.

Uses & applications

Widely used in electronics (oscillators, quartz clocks), glassmaking, abrasives, gemstone carvings, and jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, surpassed only by feldspar. Its piezoelectric properties make it essential for modern timekeeping and electronics.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified easily in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and characteristic conchoidal fracture. Found globally in almost all rock types.