Quartz
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Malchen53" title="User:Malchen53">Malchen53</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameQuartz
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorswhite, yellowish-brown
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityBrilon, Kurpark, Germany, found in Adorf (Waldeck)
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, industrial, abrasives, electronics, construction
Associated Mineralsfeldspar, mica, calcite, pyrite
Raritycommon
Description
The image shows a large, irregular chunk of milky white to yellowish-brown quartz, partially covered with moss and small plants, sitting amidst green foliage.
Geological Context
Quartz is a common rock-forming mineral found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. It crystallizes from magma and hydrothermal solutions, and is highly resistant to weathering, making it a major component of sands and sandstones.
