mineral
Small quartz crystal fragment (probable)
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectColorless to white, transparent-translucent, with a vitreous luster and likely crystalline faces; Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity about 2.65. The tiny specimen appears granular or broken, so exact identification is tentative from the image.
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Physical properties
Colorless to white, transparent-translucent, with a vitreous luster and likely crystalline faces; Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity about 2.65. The tiny specimen appears granular or broken, so exact identification is tentative from the image.
Formation & geological history
Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids, igneous melts, and sedimentary veins; crystals may range from ancient Precambrian to geologically recent. Common settings include pegmatites, quartz veins, cavities, and metamorphic rocks.
Uses & applications
Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; clear crystals are collected or cut as gemstones. This very small fragment has little commercial value.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and forms both six-sided prismatic crystals and massive aggregates. Its lack of cleavage and conchoidal fracture help distinguish it from calcite and feldspar.
Field identification & locations
Look for a glassy luster, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and no visible cleavage; a streak test is white. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins, granite pegmatites, and geodes.
