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Crystal system |
hexagonal. |
Habit |
hexagonal crystals that are prismatic and are terminated by rhombohedrons; can also be double sided pyramids; also massive, stalactitic, granular and exists as sand; twinning is common. |
Cleavage |
none. |
Fracture |
conchoidal. |
Hardness |
7 |
Specific Gravity |
2.6 |
Color |
colorless, white, gray, yellow, purple, violet, pink brown and black. |
Luster |
vitreous and occasionally greasy or waxy. |
Streak |
white |
Distinguishing features |
luster, fracture and high hardness are very characteristic. |
Uses |
important industrial mineral; sand is used in the glass industry and quartz crystals themselves are used in electronics as oscillators like those used in radios and watches.
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