mineral
Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and trigonal crystal system with white to clear coloration often stained yellowish-brown by iron oxides.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and trigonal crystal system with white to clear coloration often stained yellowish-brown by iron oxides.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or cooling magmas.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics, glassmaking, abrasives, gemstones, and ornamental carvings.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating an electric charge under mechanical stress.
Field identification & locations
Identified easily by its inability to be scratched by steel, lack of cleavage, and distinct conchoidal fracture; globally distributed in pegmatites, veins, and sandstones.
