mineral

Rough Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Clear to milky white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Clear to milky white
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy

Identified February 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Clear to milky white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or through hydrothermal precipitation in veins. It is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments globally and can be any geological age from Precambrian to Cenozoic.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, construction (as an ingredient in concrete and mortar), and as gemstones or decorative specimens for collectors.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Historically, the term 'crystal' comes from the Greek word 'krystallos,' meaning ice, as ancient Greeks believed quartz was ice frozen so hard it would never melt.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage, and its characteristic uneven, shell-like (conchoidal) fracture. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and desert sands worldwide.