mineral

Clear Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Colorless/Transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified March 28, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. It is found in all types of geological environments and can be millions of years old, often occurring in pegmatites and geodes.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), glassmaking, abrasive manufacturing, jewelry, and as a popular specimen for mineral collectors and metaphysical practitioners.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Field identification: It will scratch glass, lacks cleavage planes (breaks like glass), and cannot be scratched by a steel knife. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and mining sites worldwide.