mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; color varies widely including clear, white, gray, pink, or yellowish; vitreous (glassy) luster; trigonal crystal system; conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage; specific gravity of 2.65.
Identified More mineral →
Explore Quartz in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; color varies widely including clear, white, gray, pink, or yellowish; 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, including igneous rocks like granites and pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and sedimentary environments as weathered grains. Geological age ranges from Precambrian to modern formations.
Uses & applications
Widely used in electronics (oscillators, watches), glassmaking, abrasives, gemstone jewelry, and as a decorative stone in construction.
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 electronic communication.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), conchoidal fracture, and lack of cleavage. It is found globally in almost every rock type and is a staple find for rockhounds.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments
Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate
sedimentary
Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)
FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
mineral
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral