Quartz (Sample #26)
Colour: Clear but can come in a variety of colours such as purple (amethyst), grey, yellow, brown, black, pink, red and green.
Hardness: 7
Streak: Colourless (harder than streak plate)
Luster: Vitreous
Magnetic: No
Conductive: Yes
Cleavage: None - it typically breaks with conchoidal fracture.
Relative Density: 2.6-2.7
Distinguishing Characteristics: It can have gem like qualities, comes a variety of colours and is very hard. Quartz is pure silica.
Uses: It is often used in jewelry. Nearly all glass is made from quartz sand. It is used by the petroleum industry in hydraulic fracturing. Quartz sand is used as a filler in the manufacture of rubber, paint, and putty.
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