what is quartz?

Answer 1

Being a chemist, I know I don't belong in this forum, but here is an answer in Chemist's point of view:

Quartz = Silicon Dioxide.

Pure quartz are clear hexagonal crystals, but there are many other types of quarts with other chemical impurities mixed in the SiO2. The impurities give SiO2 different colors and many of these colored quartz have been considered to be lesser gems throughout history. Some examples of well known SiO2 based gems are Agate, Citrine, Onyx, Amethyst, Rose quartz etc.

SiO2, much like Carbons atoms in a Diamond have network covalent arrangement. This means that the the SiO2 as a solid has relatively high hardness in Mohs scale. Quartz has a Mohs scale of 7, which is almost as strong as hardened steel. This is why many watch makers use pure quartz over glass in their high-end watches to encase the front. (Dont get this confused with Quartz movement of a watch. That is totally different subject).

Answer 2

Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth's continental crust. It has a hexagonal crystal structure made of trigonal crystallized silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2), with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Density is 2.65 g/cm³. The typical shape is a six-sided prism that ends in six-sided pyramids, although these are often twinned, distorted, or so massive that only part of the shape is apparent from a mined specimen. Additionally a bed is a common form, particularly for varieties such as amethyst, where the crystals grow up from a matrix and thus only one termination pyramid is present. A quartz geode consists of a hollow rock (usually with an approximately spherical shape) with a core lined with a bed of crystals.

Answer 3

Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth's continental crust. It has a hexagonal crystal structure made of trigonal crystallized silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2), with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Density is 2.65 g/cm³. The typical shape is a six-sided prism that ends in six-sided pyramids, although these are often twinned, distorted, or so massive that only part of the shape is apparent from a mined specimen. Additionally a bed is a common form, particularly for varieties such as amethyst, where the crystals grow up from a matrix and thus only one termination pyramid is present. A quartz geode consists of a hollow rock (usually with an approximately spherical shape) with a core lined with a bed of crystals.

Answer 4

Quartz is the most common mineral on the face of the Earth.

Answer 5

Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth's continental crust. It has a hexagonal crystal structure made of trigonal crystallized silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2), with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Density is 2.65 g/cm³. The typical shape is a six-sided prism that ends in six-sided pyramids, although these are often twinned, distorted, or so massive that only part of the shape is apparent from a mined specimen. Additionally a bed is a common form, particularly for varieties such as amethyst, where the crystals grow up from a matrix and thus only one termination pyramid is present. A quartz geode consists of a hollow rock (usually with an approximately spherical shape) with a core lined with a bed of crystals.

General -

Category - Mineral
Chemical formula (or Composition)- Silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2)


Identification -

Color -Clear (if no impurities); also see Varieties
Crystal habit- 6-sided prism ending in 6-sided pyramid (typical)
Crystal system -Hexagonal
Cleavage- None
Fracture- Conchoidal
Mohs Scale hardness -7 - lower in impure varieties
Luster- Vitreous/glossy
Refractive index -1.544-1.553 - DR +0.009 (B-G interval)
Pleochroism- None
Streak -White
Specific gravity- 2.65 constant; variable in impure varieties
Melting point -1650 (±75) °C
Boiling point- 2230 °C
Solubility -H2O insoluble


Major varieties-

Chalcedony- Any cryptocrystalline quartz, although generally only used for white or lightly coloured material. Otherwise more specific names are used.

Agate -Banded Chalcedony, translucent

Onyx -Agate where the bands are straight, parallel and consistent in size.

Jasper- Opaque chalcedony, impure

Aventurine -Translucent chalcedony with small inclusions (usually mica) that shimmer.


Tiger's eye -Fibrous quartz, exhibiting chatoyancy.

Rock Crystal- Clear, colourless

Ruby Quartz- Crimson glass-like crystal, absorbs vast amounts of solar energy

Amethyst- Purple, transparent

Citrine -Yellow to reddish orange, greenish yellow

Prasiolite- Mint green, transparent

Rose- quartz Pink, translucent, may display diasterism

Milk quartz, or snow quartz -White, translucent to opaque, may display diasterism

Smoky quartz- Brown, transparent

Morion- Dark-brown, opaque

Carnelian- Reddish orange chalcedony, translucent

Answer 6

Quartz is silicon dioxide - hardness index of 7 - harder than glass - it can scratch the glass - Carborundum is made from quartz, used for cutting glass. It is a rich source of silicon.

Answer 7

Quartz is material which is having special features like Gentaring elctric induction in stress

Answer 8

many people see and use quartz everyday without knowing that it is quartz they are using. Quartz us one of the most widely distributed and most useful mineral known.
another name for quartz is "silica". it is made up of silicon and oxygen, and it is harder than steel and clearer than glass!
when quartz is pure, it is colorless or white, but when mixed with impurities it may be of variuos shades like red,yellow,brown,green,blue,lavender, or black. quartz is sometimes found in large, clear six-sided crystals with pyramid like ends called "rock crystals".
some of the most abundant rocks are composed largely of quartz. sanstone consists of grains of quartz held together by a cementing substance.quartz forms a large part of the rock we call granite. white sand is almost pure quartz and all sand consists largely of quartz!
even many of our semi-precious stones are only quartz colored by small quantities of other substances. agate,amethyst, and onyx are few examples.
quartz is used in the manufacturing of optical instruments and glass. thin slices cut from pure quartz crystals are used in radio broadcasting to keep the stations on their proper wave lengths.
when pure rock crystal is melted at a very intense heat, we get fused quartz. this is a veyr valuable and useful substance. it has a very high melting point, 1,710 degress centigrade,it expands and contracts less than any other known material, and it is more transparent than glass!
as you might expect, a substance that behaves in this way is invaluable material for laboratory utensils. a dish made of fused quartz may be heated red hot and plunged into ice water without being harmed in any way.
light and radiant heat waves travel through it very easily. since health-giving ultraviolet rays , which are absorbed by glass,will go through fused quartz,sanatoria are sometimes roofed with panes of fused quartz, and special quartz lamps are used to give artificial sun treatments.

Answer 9

a (sometimes clear) mineral composed almost entirely of silica. although silica is used to create glass, quartz is actually harder than glass, and easily scratches/cuts it.

Answer 10

A crystal that "vibrates" with a constant frequency.