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Quartz




Mt Ida, Montgomery Co., Arkansas, USA
© 2000 John H. Betts
Formula:
SiO
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:Colorless, Purple, Rose, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:7
Name:From the German "quarz", of uncertain origin.
Quartz is the most common mineral found on the surface of the earth. A significant component of many igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, this natural form of silicon dioxide is found in an impressive range of varieties and colours. There are many names for different varieties: Crypto-crystalline varieties of Quartz are listed seperatetly under Chalcedony, and include the Agate family.
Classification of Quartz
IMA status:Approved
Validity of Species:A valid mineral species
Strunz ID:4/D.01-10

4 : Oxides & Hydroxides
D : Oxides with metal : oxygen = 1:2 (MO2 and related compounds)
01 : Quartz group
Dana ID:75.1.3.1
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.8.1
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3337.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Occurrences of Quartz
Geological Setting:Most of them...
Industrial Uses:Ore for silicon, glassmaking, frequency standards, optical instruments. Major component of sand.
Physical Properties of Quartz
Lustre:Vitreous
Diapheny:Transparent,Translucent
Colour:Colorless, Purple, Rose, Black, Yellow, Brown, Green, Orange, etc.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs')7
Hardness Data:Mohs' hardness reference species
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.65 - 2.66 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.66 g/cm3
Crystallography of Quartz
Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:P31 2 1
Cell Parameters:a = 4.9133, c = 5.4053
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.1
Z:3
Morphology:Typically long prismatic with steep pyramidal terminations, but may be short prismatic to nearly bipyramidal; fibrous (agate & chalcedony)
Twinning:Dauphine law.
Brazil law.
Japan law.
Others for beta-quartz...
X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data for Quartz
X-Ray Data:4.527(20)
3.324(10)
2.457(10)
2.282(10)
2.127(10)
1.8179(10)
1.5418(10)
1.3718(10)
Optical Data of Quartz
Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values nω=1.543 - 1.545 nε=1.552 - 1.554
Maximum Birefringence:δ=0.009

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Relationship of Quartz to other Species
Associates:
  • Fluorite 
  • Calcite 
  • Pyrite 
  • Galena 
  • Hematite 
  • Chalcopyrite 
  • Sphalerite 
  • Rhodochrosite 
  • Dolomite 
  • Tetrahedrite 
  • Related Minerals (Strunz Grouping):
    4/D.01-Seifertite
    SiO
     
    2
    4/D.01-10Lechatelierite
    SiO
     
    2
    4/D.01-20Tridymite
    SiO
     
    2
    4/D.01-30Cristobalite
    SiO
     
    2
    4/D.01-40Melanophlogite
    46SiO
     
    2
    ·6(N
     
    2
    ,CO
     
    2
    )·2(CH
     
    4
    ,N
     
    2
    )
    4/D.01-50Coesite
    SiO
     
    2
    4/D.01-60Stishovite
    SiO
     
    2
    4/D.01-80Opal
    SiO
     
    2
    ·nH
     
    2
    O
    Chemical Properties of Quartz
    Formula:
    SiO
     
    2
    Elements:Si, O
    Other Names for Quartz
    Synonyms:
  • 石英
  • α-Quartz
  • β-Quartz (of Geophys. Lab)
  • Alpha-Quartz
  • Azeztulite
  • Brazillian Pebble
  • Conite (of Macculloch)
  • Cuarzo
  • Kammquarz
  • Kiesel
  • Konilit
  • Konilita
  • Konilite
  • Kvarts
  • Low Quartz
  • Mexican Diamond
  • Pebble, Brazillian
  • Quartz-α
  • Quartz-alpha
  • Quarz
  • Quarzo
  • Quertz
  • Silica
  • Pacific Cat's Eye (in part)
  • Varieties:
  • Amethyst
  • Ametrine
  • Apricotine
  • Arkansas Candle
  • Asteriated Quartz
  • Babel-Quartz
  • Blue Quartz
  • Bull Quartz
  • Cape May Diamond
  • Capped Quartz
  • Chert
  • Citrine
  • Cotterite
  • Cubic Quartz
  • Eisenkiesel
  • El Doradoite
  • Ferruginous Quartz
  • Flint
  • Haytorite
  • Hedgehog Stone
  • Herkimer Diamond
  • Jacinto de Compostela Quartz
  • Jacinto Quartz
  • Jasper
  • Milky Quartz
  • Oil Quartz
  • Prase
  • Quartz-beta
  • Rock Crystal
  • Rose Quartz
  • Rutilated Quartz
  • Sceptre Quartz
  • Smoky Quartz
  • Other Information
    Health Warning:Long-term exposure to finely ground powder may lead to silicosis.
    References for Quartz
    Berti G.(1994): Microcrystalline properties of quartz by means of XRPD measures. Adv. X-Ray Analysis,Vol. 37,359-366.

    Dana's New Mineralogy, 8th Edition (1997) by Gaines, et.al., p. 1573.

    Dana's System of Mineralogy, 7th Edition (1962) Clifford Frondel Vol. III

    Silica: Physical Behavior, Geochemistry and Materials Applications Vol 29. Mineralogical Society of America Reviews in Mineralogy 606p.
    Internet Links for Quartz
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