Description
A hard, crystalline form of silicon dioxide. Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the earth's crust and occurs as grains (sand), masses (agate, bloodstone, chalcedony, jasper, carnelian, etc.) or crystals (rock crystal, amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, rose quartz, etc.). Quartz usually crystallizes in hexagonal prisms or pyramids. It has been mined or gathered as a semiprecious stone since Paleolithic times. Quartz is a piezoelectric crystal, i.e. generates an electrical force when placed under pressure. Additionally, quartz crystals are used in polarized light microscopy because they can rotate the plane of polarized light. Some crystalline forms of quartz are used as gemstones, such as amethyst and citrine. Sand is the primary component in the manufacture of glass, and is an additive in porcelain, brick, cement, and mortar. Because of its hardness, quartz is also used as an abrasive in stonecutting, sandblasting, and glass grinding.
Synonyms and Related Terms
sand; agate; bloodstone; chalcedony; jasper; carnelian; sard; rock crystal (colorless); amethyst (purple); citrine (yellow); onyx; rose quartz (pink); smoky quartz (brown to black); yellow quartz; milky quartz (milk white); chrysoprase; kvarts (Dan., Nor., Sven.); Quarz (Deut.); cuarzo (Esp.); quartz (Fr.); quarzo (It.); kwarts (Ned.); kwarc (Pol.); quartzo (Port.)
| SiO2 |
| 14808-60-7 |
| 7.0 |
| 1713 |
| mol. wt. = 60.08 |
| 2.65-2.66 |
| 1.544; 1.553 |
| 2230 |
Other Properties
Insoluble in acids except for hydrofluoric acid. Slightly soluble in alkalis.
Trigonal crystal system. Low birefringence. Low thermal expansion.
Fracture = conchoidal. Luster = vitreous to greasy. Streak = white.
Microscopically, particles are transparent. Crossed polars shows low virefringence and first order grays
Hazards and Safety
Noncombustible. Inhalation of fine particles may cause silicosis.
Mallinckrodt Baker: MSDS
Additional Information
Mineralogy Database: Quartz
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Images
11 total images
Diamond-shaped paletteNubian A-Group, about 3100-3000 B.C. Nubia Quartz Width x length: 2.5 x 6 cm (1 x 2 3/8 in.) Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Archaeological Survey of Nubia 19.1562 for more information see:MFA Online Collections Database |
Archer's Draw RingNubian Meroitic Period 3rd century B.C.-3rd century A.D. Quartz Height x diameter: 2.5 x 5.0 cm Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Harvard University - Museum of Fine Arts Expedition 24.884 for more information see:MFA Online Collections Database |
QuartzQuartz. Image credit: Minerals and Materials Photo Gallery. Image accessed Oct.30, 2004 at Minerals in Your World |
Quartz
Photomacrograph of Quartz with some areas of gold. Sample provided by the Scientific Research Lab.
Photo Credit: Keith Lawrence, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
Quartz crystal
Photograph of quartz crystal. (Accessed June 27, 2005 at www.wikipedia.com) |
Quartz
Photomicrograph of quartz at 200X. From the McCrone Paint Pigment Reference Set. Sample provided by the MFA Scientific Research Lab.
Photo credit: Keith Lawrence, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
Quartz
Polarized photomicrograph of quartz at 200X. From the McCrone Paint Pigment Reference Set. Sample provided by the MFA Scientific Research Lab.
Photo credit: Keith Lawrence, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
IR spectrum of quartz
Spectrum collected using a microdiamond cell. Credit: Scientific Research Lab, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. |
XRD spectrum for quartz
Sample of powdered quartz. Matched JCPDS files for Quartz (86-1630).
Image credit: MFA Scientific Research Lab |
Raman spectrum of quartz
Raman spectrum of mineral collected at 514.5 nm (Ar+ laser, 300 mW power). Credit: Raman Spectra Database of Minerals and Inorganic Materials (RASMIN) at http://www.aist.go.jp/RIODB/rasmin/E_index.htm |
Raman spectrum of quartz
Raman spectrum of natural crystals in random orientation using a micro Raman instrument with a He-Ne laser (632.8 nm excitation wavelength). Credit: Physics Department of the University of Parma at http://www.fis.unipr.it./~bersani/raman/raman/spettri.htm |
Authority
15 total authority records
Nicholas Eastaugh, Valentine Walsh, Tracey Chaplin, Ruth Siddall, Pigment Compendium, Vol. 1 and II, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2004
R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
Materials Handbook, G.S. Brady, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971
comments: p. 644
Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 10th ed., Richard S. Lewis, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1993
R.M.Organ, Design for Scientific Conservation of Antiquities, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 1968
Jack Odgen, Jewellery of the Ancient World, Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982
Ward Bucher (ed.), Dictionary of Building Preservation, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Random House, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
R.F.Symmes, T.T.Harding, Paul Taylor, Rocks, Fossils and Gems, DK Publishing, Inc., New York City, 1997
A.Lucas, J.R.Harris, Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries, 4th edition, Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd., London, 1962
The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com
comments: "quartz" Encyclopædia Britannica [Accessed December 4, 2001].
C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979
Last updated on: 3/12/2010 11:45:56 AM
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