mineral
Smoky Quartz
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, conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, brown to black color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and pegmatitic environments through natural irradiation of transparent quartz.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, gemstone carving, and as a collector's mineral specimen.
Geological facts
The dark coloration results from free silicon formed when natural radiation interacts with trace aluminum impurities in the crystal lattice.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its characteristic brown to smoky grey translucent appearance and quartz crystal habits; commonly found in Brazil, the US, and Switzerland.
