mineral

Quartz with Muscovite Mica

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Potassium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide (KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2)

Quartz: Hardness 7, colorless to white, vitreous luster, hexagonal; Mica: Hardness 2-2.5, pearly luster, perfect basal cleavage (sheets).

Identified June 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Quartz: Hardness 7, colorless to white, vitreous luster, hexagonal; Mica: Hardness 2-2.5, pearly luster, perfect basal cleavage (sheets).

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous pegmatites or hydrothermal veins where silicon-rich fluids and aluminum-rich minerals crystallize slowly at high pressure and temperature.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used in glassmaking and electronics; Mica is used as an electrical insulator and in cosmetics for its shimmer. Collectors value large, well-formed crystals.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Muscovite was once used as a glass substitute in windows, known as 'Muscovy glass'.

Field identification & locations

Identified by the distinct contrast between hard, glassy quartz and soft, flaky, metallic-looking mica sheets. Commonly found in granitic mountainous regions.

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sedimentary

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Nephrite Jade

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Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

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Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

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mineral