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 with no true cleavage.
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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 with no true cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and pegmatitic environments when natural radiation from surrounding radioactive rocks activates aluminum impurities within clear quartz.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, and as a popular mineral specimen for collectors.
Geological facts
Smoky quartz is the national gemstone of Scotland and has been historically used in traditional Scottish Highland jewelry and weaponry.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive translucent brown to black coloration and conchoidal fracture; commonly found worldwide in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins.
