mineral

Smoky quartz crystal fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂), smoky variety

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; brown to gray-brown translucent body with vitreous luster and likely conchoidal fracture. Quartz is trigonal, lacks cleavage, and has specific gravity about 2.65.

Identified September 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness 7 Mohs; brown to gray-brown translucent body with vitreous luster and likely conchoidal fracture. Quartz is trigonal, lacks cleavage, and has specific gravity about 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Smoky coloration forms when natural irradiation activates aluminum impurities in quartz, commonly in granitic pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and alpine fissures. The photographed piece appears broken or partially polished, so its exact locality and age cannot be determined visually.

Uses & applications

Used as a collector specimen and occasionally in jewelry or ornamental objects; quartz is also important in glass, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone.

Geological facts

Smoky quartz is the brown member of the quartz family; darker examples may be sold as morion. Color can sometimes fade with strong heating or sunlight.

Field identification & locations

Look for glassy luster, translucent brown color, conchoidal fracture, and hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass; a scratch test and locality information are needed for confirmation. Common sources include Brazil, Switzerland, Madagascar, Scotland, and the United States.