quartz
Sign in to saveQuartz is a hard mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). Its atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen atom being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO2. Therefore, quartz is classified structurally as a framework silicate mineral and compositionally as an oxide mineral. Quartz is the second most common mineral or mineral group in Earth's lithosphere, comprising about 12% by mass.
AI overview
Quartz is a hard mineral made of silicon and oxygen (silicon dioxide) that forms when silicon-oxygen units link together in a continuous framework structure. It's the second most abundant mineral in Earth's crust, making up about 12% of the planet's rocky material by mass.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Mineral.name
- Quartz
- Mineral.category
- Tectosilicate minerals
- Mineral.group
- Quartz group
- Mineral.image
- Quartz Brésil.jpg
- Mineral.caption
- Quartz crystal cluster from Brazil
- Mineral.formula
- SiO2
- Mineral.IMAsymbol
- Qz
- Mineral.strunz
- 4.DA.05 (oxides)
- Mineral.dana
- 75.01.03.01 (tectosilicates)
- Mineral.system
- α-quartz: trigonal β-quartz: hexagonal
- Mineral.class
- α-quartz: trapezohedral (class 3 2) β-quartz: trapezohedral (class 6 2 2)
- Mineral.symmetry
- α-quartz: P3221 (no. 154)β-quartz: P6222 (no. 180) or P6422 (no. 181)
Article
14 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Early studies
- Crystal habit and structure
- Varieties
- Piezoelectricity
- Occurrence
- Mining
- Related silica minerals
- Safety
- Synthetic and artificial treatments
- Uses
- See also
- References
- External links
Quartz is a hard mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). Its atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen atom being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO2. Therefore, quartz is classified structurally as a framework silicate mineral and compositionally as an oxide mineral. Quartz is the second most common mineral or mineral group in Earth's lithosphere, comprising about 12% by mass.
Quartz exists in two forms, the normal α-quartz and the high-temperature β-quartz, both of which are chiral. The transformation from α-quartz to β-quartz takes place abruptly at . Since the transformation is accompanied by a significant change in volume, it can easily induce microfracturing of ceramics or rocks passing through this temperature threshold.