mineral
Smoky Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, brown to black color, vitreous luster, and trigonal crystal system with conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, brown to black color, vitreous luster, and trigonal crystal system with conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins through the natural irradiation of crystalline quartz over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used widely in gemstone jewelry, ornamental carvings, and as a popular specimen for mineral collectors.
Geological facts
The dark coloration results from natural gamma radiation emitted by surrounding radioactive rocks acting on aluminum impurities.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its translucent to opaque brown-to-black coloration and distinct conchoidal fracture; commonly sourced from Brazil, Colorado, and the Swiss Alps.
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