mineral

Quartz (Crystal Fragment)

Quartz / Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white/clear; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless to white/clear
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified April 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless to white/clear; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It can be found in almost all geological environments and across all geological ages, from Precambrian to the present.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), glassmaking, abrasives, construction (silica sand), and as a gemstone in jewelry or for metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. It is piezo-electric, meaning it generates an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress, which is why it's used in watches and clocks.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (cannot be scratched by steel), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal (shell-like) fracture. Found globally in granites, sandstones, and metamorphic rocks.

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