mineral
White Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to milky color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white to milky color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments through the cooling of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or crystallization from magma.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, electronics, oscillator crystals, abrasives, and as decorative or lapidary specimens.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating an electric charge under mechanical stress.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its high hardness (scratches glass) and conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide in nearly all geological settings.
