Which propert causes quartz to resist chemical weathering more than any other common mineral?

Answer 1

Weathering is defined as the decomposition of minerals by chemical compounds attacking the crystal structure. Quartz is crystalline SiO2, a compound that is very resistant against all usual aggressive chemical agents (mostly acids in natural environments) and can be decomposed efficiently only by hydrofluoric acid (HF), which rarely occurs in nature.

All other common minerals can either be oxidized on the surface (metals and sulphides), dissolved (carbonates and evaporites), transformed into clay minerals (silicates).

Answer 2

The strong covalent bonds in the structure of quartz make it highly resistant to chemical weathering compared to other common minerals. This resistance is due to the lack of cleavage planes and the high hardness of quartz, which prevent it from breaking down easily when exposed to chemical processes.