mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to transparent; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to transparent
Luster: Vitreous

Identified March 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to transparent; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It crystalizes at low temperatures and high pressures and is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments globally.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in electronics (oscillators), optics (lenses), industry (glassmaking), construction (sand/concrete component), and jewelry/ornamental carvings.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the Greek 'krystallos', meaning ice, as ancient peoples believed it was permanently frozen ice.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its transparency, its ability to scratch glass, and its lack of cleavage (it breaks into curved, shell-like patterns). Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and desert sands.