Quartz
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Mineral NameQuartz
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorscolorless, white, purple, yellow, brown, black, pink
Transparencytransparent/translucent
Type LocalityWorldwide
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, industrial, collector, oscillators
Associated Mineralsfeldspar, mica, calcite, pyrite
Raritycommon
Description
Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms, forming a trigonal crystal system. It commonly occurs as prismatic crystals with hexagonal cross-sections, or in massive forms, exhibiting a wide range of colors.
Geological Context
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust, found in a wide range of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. It forms from the slow cooling of silica-rich magmas, precipitation from hydrothermal fluids, and as a detrital mineral in sediments.
