mineral
Smoky quartz crystal fragment
Quartz (SiO₂), smoky variety
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectTranslucent brown to nearly black crystal with vitreous luster and a pale exposed edge. Mohs hardness 7; hexagonal crystal system, no cleavage, and conchoidal fracture; specific gravity about 2.65. The photo’s small size limits certainty.
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Physical properties
Translucent brown to nearly black crystal with vitreous luster and a pale exposed edge. Mohs hardness 7; hexagonal crystal system, no cleavage, and conchoidal fracture; specific gravity about 2.65. The photo’s small size limits certainty.
Formation & geological history
Forms in silica-rich hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, or in cavities in igneous rocks; its brown color commonly results from natural irradiation acting on trace aluminum. Quartz-bearing deposits span many geological ages.
Uses & applications
Quartz is widely used in glass, electronics, and construction; attractive smoky quartz is cut for jewelry and collected as a mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Smoky quartz’s color can range from faint gray-brown to very dark brown, sometimes called morion.
Field identification & locations
Look for glassy luster, hardness sufficient to scratch glass, and lack of cleavage; common in granite pegmatites and hydrothermal veins worldwide. This appears to be a rough fragment, though identification from the image is not definitive.
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