mineral

Clear Quartz (Rock Crystal)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Colorless/Transparent. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal) prisms with pyramidal terminations. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Colorless/Transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Typically crystallizes from cooling magma or precipitates from hydrothermal veins. Found in geological formations ranging from Precambrian to recent ages.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics for piezoelectric properties (oscillators), glassmaking, abrasives, and precision optics. Highly valued in jewelry as a gemstone and popular among collectors and metaphysical practitioners.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Historically, the word 'crystal' comes from the Greek word 'krystallos,' meaning ice, as ancient people believed it was permanently frozen ice.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 6-sided crystal shape, ability to scratch glass (hardness 7), and lack of cleavage. Commonly found in granite pegmatites and hydrothermal veins globally, especially in Brazil and the USA (Arkansas).