mineral

Quartz (Milky/Clear variety)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to colorless/transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: White to colorless/transparent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 8, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to colorless/transparent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of molten rock (igneous) or through hydrothermal precipitation from hot, mineral-rich fluids in veins. It is found across all geological ages in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators), glassmaking, abrasives, construction (sand), and as a popular gemstone for jewelry and metaphysical collections.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it can scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and glassy appearance. Commonly found along stream beds, in mountains, or inside geodes globally.