mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and no cleavage. Colors vary widely from colorless to milky white, gray, or pink.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and no cleavage. Colors vary widely from colorless to milky white, gray, or pink.
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of temperature and pressure conditions, commonly crystallizing from silica-rich hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and igneous rocks like granite.
Uses & applications
Widely used in electronics, glassmaking, abrasives, and as a popular gemstone or mineral specimen for collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties, making it useful in electronic oscillators.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its high hardness (scratches glass) and conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide in nearly every geological environment.
