mineral
Smoky Quartz in Matrix
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from brownish-gray to deep black, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from brownish-gray to deep black, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites through the crystallization of silica-rich fluids under natural irradiation, often dating back hundreds of millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in lapidary arts, gemstone jewelry, metaphysical practices, and mineral collecting.
Geological facts
The dark coloration is caused by natural gamma radiation from surrounding radioactive rocks acting on trace aluminum impurities within the quartz crystal lattice.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its hardness (scratches glass), vitreous luster, and characteristic smoky brown to black coloration. Found globally in pegmatites and granitic terranes.
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