Clear quartz, or rock crystal, is the purest variety of crystalline quartz characterized by its excellent transparency and classic prismatic habit. It is found globally in a wide variety of geological settings, often forming stunning, water-clear clusters or large single terminated points.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralcommonQuartz family

Clear Quartz

Also: Rock Crystal

Hardness: 7
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

Is this clear quartz?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch clear quartz with a known reference. Clear Quartz sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals with pyramidal terminations.

Often confused with

Clear Quartz vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Calcite

Mohs 3

How to tell apart: Clear Quartz is noticeably harder (Mohs 7 vs. 3).

How to tell apart: Clear Quartz is noticeably harder (Mohs 7 vs. 4-5).

How to tell apart: Topaz is the harder of the two (Mohs 8 vs. 7).

Compare →

Often found alongside clear quartz

Minerals reported to co-occur with clear quartz. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: SiO₂
Mohs hardness: 7
Density: 2.65 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless White
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Prismatic crystals with pyramidal terminations
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Common
Uses: Collector, Lapidary, Industrial, Decorative
Host rock: granite pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, sedimentary rocks

Where rockhounds find clear quartz

4 mapped spots

Classic worldwide localities

Arkansas, USA
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Alps, Switzerland
Madagascar
Himalayas, India

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: granite pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, sedimentary rocks. If you start seeing feldspar, mica, chlorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals with pyramidal terminations. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia. Start trip planning there.

Browse 4 U.S. spots for clear quartz →

More clear quartz photos

Common questions

How do you identify clear quartz?+

Mohs hardness is 7. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, white.

Where is clear quartz found?+

Notable localities include Arkansas, USA; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Alps, Switzerland; Madagascar; Himalayas, India.

Can I find clear quartz in the United States?+

RockHoundR maps 4 clear quartz rockhounding spots across 3 U.S. states. The top states are Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia.

What rocks look like clear quartz?+

Clear Quartz is most often confused with Calcite, Apophyllite, Topaz. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with clear quartz?+

Clear Quartz commonly co-occurs with Feldspar, Mica, Chlorite, Hematite, Calcite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does clear quartz form in?+

Where it forms: granite pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, sedimentary rocks. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is clear quartz used for?+

Clear Quartz is used in collector, lapidary, industrial, decorative.

Find clear quartz on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.