Rock Identifier
Smoky Quartz (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)) — mineral
mineral

Smoky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 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 in igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermal environments through natural irradiation of crystalline quartz over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry, gemstone carving, and as a popular mineral specimen for collectors.

Geological facts

The dark coloration is caused by natural gamma radiation activating aluminum impurities within the quartz lattice.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its distinctive brown to black translucent coloration and vitreous luster; found globally with major deposits in Brazil and the US.