Spirit quartz
Variety SiO2
Also called Cactus quartz and Fairy quartz
About it
Quartz points coated all over with tiny secondary crystals, giving a fuzzy, cactus-like look in amethyst, smoky, or white. Found near Boekenhoutshoek in South Africa.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Quartz variety
- Formula
- SiO2
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 7
- Specific gravity
- 2.65–2.66
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Colours
- purple, lilac, smoky brown, white, golden
- Transparency
- translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; conchoidal fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.