Quartz
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/14730981@N08">James Petts</a> from London, England (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mineral NameQuartz
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak ColorWhite
CleavageNone
FractureConchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorscolorless, white, pale brown, pale yellow
TransparencyTranslucent to transparent
Type LocalityWorldwide
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, industrial, collector, electronic components
Associated Mineralsbaryte, feldspar, mica, calcite
Raritycommon
Description
A close-up image reveals a cluster of small, translucent to transparent quartz crystals, displaying a range of pale brown to off-white tones, with some crystals containing minute dark inclusions.
Geological Context
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust, forming in a wide variety of geological environments including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, often crystallizing from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids.
