mineral
Smoky Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, brown to black color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, brown to black color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich fluids in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, often exposed to natural radiation from surrounding radioactive rocks.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, and as a popular mineral specimen for collectors.
Geological facts
The dark coloration is caused by free silicon formed when natural radiation passes through crystalline quartz containing trace aluminum impurities.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its characteristic brown to black smoky transparency and lack of cleavage; found globally with notable deposits in Brazil, Madagascar, and the United States.
