mineral

Small white quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Likely opaque to translucent white quartz with a dull-to-glassy luster and irregular fracture; hardness about 7 Mohs, no cleavage, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity near 2.65.

Identified September 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Likely opaque to translucent white quartz with a dull-to-glassy luster and irregular fracture; hardness about 7 Mohs, no cleavage, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity near 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermal fluids; this fragment may be weathered vein quartz or quartz-rich rock. Its precise geological age and source cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive crystals are collected or used ornamentally, but this small fragment has little commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is highly resistant to weathering, often accumulating in stream gravels and soils.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by hardness— it can scratch ordinary glass—and its lack of cleavage; white calcite is softer and reacts with dilute acid. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins, granites, and metamorphic rocks.