Home > categories > Minerals & Metallurgy > Quartz Plate > What should the characteristics of Quartz?
Question:

What should the characteristics of Quartz?

Suppose you found a white, non-metallic mineral that was harder than calcite. You identify the sample as Quartz. What are you observations? What is your inference? Will it leave a streak? Explain. I'm so gonna fail this midterm :(

Answer:

It is all ultimately of igneous or hydrothermal origin and arises as a result of there being an excess of SiO2 over other oxides, carbonates, chlorides and sulphates resulting in the SiO2 crystallising out as quartz rather than forming other minerals in combination with other metal ions and radicals.

Share to: