
mineral
White Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white or milky color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, white or milky color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Forms primarily from cooling magma in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, as well as through sedimentary deposition over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in electronics, glassmaking, engineered stone countertops, and polished ornamental jewelry or gemstone collections.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating electricity under mechanical stress.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its high hardness which easily scratches glass and its lack of cleavage; found globally in almost every geological environment.