Quartz
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SKas" title="User:SKas">SKas</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameQuartz
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorswhite, colorless
Transparencytransparent/translucent
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, industrial, collector
Associated Mineralsdatolite, garnet
Raritycommon
Description
This specimen features a large cluster of white to colorless, prismatic quartz crystals, some growing on a pale green datolite matrix, presented alongside a separate cluster of dark brown to black garnet crystals.
Geological Context
Quartz forms in diverse geological settings, including hydrothermal veins. Datolite often occurs in cavities of mafic igneous rocks, and garnets are common in metamorphic rocks, suggesting a complex formation environment for this multi-mineral specimen.
