mineral

White quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Likely massive or microcrystalline quartz: white, translucent to opaque, with a glassy-to-waxy luster and irregular fracture. Hardness is 7 Mohs; no cleavage; specific gravity about 2.65. The photograph is insufficient for confident identification.

Identified August 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous fluids and occurs widely in veins, pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, and sedimentary deposits. Its age depends on the host formation, ranging from ancient Precambrian to recent.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, engineered stone, and construction aggregate; clear varieties are used as gemstones.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and commonly forms six-sided crystals, though this fragment shows no diagnostic crystal faces.

Field identification & locations

Check for hardness by testing glass (quartz should scratch it), conchoidal fracture, and lack of cleavage; distinguish calcite by its lower hardness and acid reaction. Common worldwide.