Quartz Nugget!

Quartz is a silicate mineral, specifically a tectosilicate or framework silicate. It is one of the most common minerals on Earth's crust, with the chemical composition SiO₂ (silicon dioxide). Here are some key characteristics of quartz:

Crystal Structure: Quartz forms in hexagonal prisms, often with a pyramidal termination. It has a high degree of crystalline perfection.

Hardness: Quartz has a Mohs hardness of 7, making it relatively hard and durable.

Color: It can appear in many colors due to impurities or structural defects:

Clear or colorless quartz is called rock crystal.

Milky quartz has a white, cloudy appearance due to minute fluid inclusions.

Amethyst is purple due to irradiation and iron impurities.

Citrine ranges from yellow to orange or brown, colored by iron.

Smoky quartz is brown to black from natural radiation exposure.

Rose quartz is pink, with the color attributed to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese.

Luster: Quartz typically has a vitreous (glass-like) luster.

Transparency: It can vary from transparent to translucent to opaque.

Cleavage: Quartz does not have cleavage; it fractures conchoidally (shell-like breaks), which is another characteristic of its durability.

Quartz is not only valued for its aesthetic qualities but also for its industrial uses, like in the manufacturing of glass, electronics (as silicon for semiconductors), and abrasives. It's also a significant component in many types of rock, including granite, where it often forms the light-colored, reflective crystals.