mineral
White Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
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.
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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 a wide variety of geological environments, most commonly in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and as a primary component of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics, manufacturing of glass and ceramics, gemstone carvings, and as a specimen for mineral collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, surpassed only by feldspar. Milky quartz owes its color to microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during crystal growth.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide in almost every geological setting.
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