Quartz the Mineral World and Its Hidden Forms
The Mini Page interviews a Smithsonian expert to explore quartz. Quartz is the Earths most common mineral, found in sand and granite, often gray and hidden from view. It is composed of oxygen and silica, two abundant building blocks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Earth
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C
Des Moines
Iowa
Lolo Jones
Jones
Louisiana State University
Lolo
Quartz, Earth's abundant hard mineral guiding rock durability
Quartz is a durable, natural mineral found in most rocks including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic types. It resists heat and weathering, lasting longer than many minerals with a Mohs hardness of 7 while diamonds rate 10 and talc 1.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Earth
James Franco Career Sketch Highlights
James Franco, 34, born in Palo Alto California, rose as Oscar Diggs in Oz the Great and Powerful. He starred in Freaks and Geeks and appeared in Spider Man films. He studied English and creative writing, pursues acting to overcome shyness, paints and writes poetry, and volunteers for a children's illness charity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Franco
the Wizard
Oscar Diggs
James
Palo Alto
Calif
Ee Aing
Crystal Structures of Quartz and Varieties
Quartz crystals form in repeating patterns with open space in rock to grow. Crystals range from microscopic to large and come in amethyst agate rose quartz rock crystal and flint, with color from elements like iron. Heating amethyst can yield citrine color.
Quartz Geodes and Crystal Formation Across Rocks
Geodes are hollow rocks with crystal-filled cavities often formed in agate or amethyst quartz. Most large amethyst geodes come from Brazil or Uruguay and are linked to volcanic lava cooling, while some form underwater. Quartz under pressure develops opposite electrical charges that enable its use in watches, radios, and computers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brazil
Uruguay
Quartz and crystal use in jewelry and industry
The text explains how jewelers craft minerals into gemstones with facets to catch light. It notes quartz varieties like amethyst used in jewelry and rock crystal as a clear form. It also mentions quartz’s roles in glass, ceramics, and other manufacturing.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Star of the Mineral World
King
Hard As A
Goldie Goodsport
Haight
Mini
Mini Spy
Cookie
Crystal
National Mineral Collection
Michael Wise
Betty Debnam
Lisa Tarry
Lucy Lien
Wendy Daley
Mor Mimi
Sam
Suzie
Solomon
Simon
Kathy
Laura
Geogallery.si
Edurocksforkids
National G
R.F. Symes
R.R. Harding
Smithsonian
Ben Morgan
Douglas Palmer
The
National Archives
U.S
Andrews McMeel Universal
P.O
Leawood
Smartwarehousing.com
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!