What is Quartz?

Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms and the second most abundant mineral in the planet’s crust, after the feldspar family of minerals. Quartz crystals, which are hexagonal in shape, vary enormously in size and color. This versatile mineral is both durable and chemically inert and demonstrates excellent heat resistance as well as electric properties.
Geology
Quartz is a defining constituent of granite and other felsic igneous rocks.
It is common in sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and shale as well as schist, gneiss, quartzite and other metamorphic rocks.
Physical properties
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Hard (7 on Mohs scale)
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Chemically inert
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Thermal stability
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Electrical properties
- Ferroalloy and ferro-silicon production
- Aggregates
- Solar panels
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Ferroalloy and ferro-silicon production
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Aggregates
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Solar panels