mineral

Tumbled or naturally broken quartz crystal

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Colorless to milky translucent pieces with vitreous luster and irregular fracture; hardness 7 on the Mohs scale, no cleavage, and a hexagonal crystal structure. The yellowish tint may result from iron staining or surface coating.

Identified August 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids, igneous melts, or sedimentary veins; individual pieces cannot be dated from the image. Commonly associated with granite, pegmatite, quartz veins, and geodes.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; clear attractive crystals are collected or used in inexpensive jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and commonly forms six-sided prisms with pyramidal terminations, though these specimens appear fractured or worn.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy appearance, hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; common worldwide, especially in Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and quartz-vein regions.