mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to colorless color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to colorless color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through the cooling of magma or precipitation from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions.
Uses & applications
Widely used in electronics, glassmaking, optics, and as a popular gemstone or decorative mineral specimen for collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and durable minerals in the Earth's continental crust, exhibiting piezoelectric properties.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinct hardness, lack of cleavage, and characteristic conchoidal fracture; found globally in almost all geological settings.
