mineral
White Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Milky white to translucent
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in a wide variety of geological environments, frequently crystallizing from silica-rich hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and as a primary component of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics (oscillators), manufacturing of glass and ceramics, gemstone carvings, and as a popular specimen for rock collectors and lapidary work.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant and widely distributed minerals found on Earth's continental crust. Its piezoelectric properties make it essential in modern electronics for precise timekeeping.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and characteristic conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide, particularly in pegmatites and hydrothermal vein systems.
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