Star Crystal Necklace

How is quartz formed?

Quartz is a mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO2. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, behind feldspar.

Quartz forms at all temperatures. Most quartz crystallizes from molten magma or silica-rich fluids at high temperatures. This form of quartz is called igneous or primary quartz. It can also be precipitated from hot water (hydrothermal) solutions at low temperatures and pressures, or from seawater (marine) environments. This form of quartz is called secondary quartz.

Igneous quartz can be found in many different types of rocks, including granite, gabbro, and diorite. Hydrothermal quartz can be found in veins and ore deposits, such as hydrothermal gold deposits. Marine quartz can be found as beach sand or as part of coral reefs.

So there you have it—a brief overview of how quartz is formed. Next time you're admiring a beautifully polished piece of quartz, remember the fascinating geological processes that went into its formation!

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