mineral

Quartz (Crystal Point/Fragment)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless to white/brown (translucent), Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65

Identified April 28, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless to white/brown (translucent), Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and as a primary mineral in many igneous rocks. It can form at nearly any geological temperature or pressure and is found in deposits dating from the Archean to the present day.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and widely collected as gemstones or decorative specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust. It is highly resistant to both chemical and physical weathering, which is why it often makes up the majority of sand on beaches.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it scratches glass easily), glassy luster, and lack of cleavage (it breaks in curved, shell-like patterns). Very common in mountain ranges and river sediments.

Other mineral specimens

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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Schist

Metamorphic

Epidote

Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

metamorphic

Nephrite Jade

Nephrite

Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]

mineral