Quartz
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Aqualine&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="User:Aqualine (page does not exist)">Aqualine</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameQuartz
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorswhite, grey, beige, brown
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityUbiquitous
Mineral GroupSilicates
Useswater filtration, abrasives, glassmaking, construction
Associated Mineralsfeldspar, mica
Raritycommon
Description
The image displays various granular materials used in water filtration, including fine beige sand and coarser greyish grains, which are primarily composed of quartz. Other materials like activated carbon and ion-exchange resin are also present.
Geological Context
Quartz sand, a common filtration medium, forms from the weathering and erosion of quartz-rich igneous and metamorphic rocks, accumulating in sedimentary environments like rivers and beaches. These natural materials are then processed for industrial applications.
