Quartz is a mineral composed of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and is characterized by its hexagonal crystal structure, hardness, and lack of cleavage. In contrast, pyroxene is a group of silicate minerals that typically contain iron, magnesium, and calcium, displaying a more complex crystal structure and two distinct cleavage directions at approximately 90 degrees. While quartz is commonly found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, pyroxene is primarily found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks. Additionally, quartz is generally transparent to translucent, while pyroxenes are usually opaque and exhibit various colors depending on their composition.
Quartz would be able to scratch fluorite, galena, and pyroxene as it is harder than these minerals on the Mohs scale of hardness.
Quartz is silicon dioxide (sand). Diamond is an allotropic form of carbon.
Quartz movement is more traditional. Kintetic quartz relies on different principles and is a bit more accurate.
Gneiss contains the minerals mica, quartz, feldspar, amphibole, garnet, and pyroxene.
Granite and diorite are both types of igneous rocks composed primarily of feldspar and quartz. The main difference between the two lies in their mineral composition—granite contains more quartz, while diorite contains more dark minerals like amphibole and pyroxene. In terms of color, granite is typically light in color (pink, white, or gray), whereas diorite is usually darker (gray to black).
All four minerals—quartz, pyroxene, olivine, and calcite—contain silicon as a common element. Quartz and olivine are silicate minerals, meaning they are composed primarily of silicon and oxygen, while pyroxene is also a silicate that includes other metal elements. Calcite, although a carbonate mineral, contains carbon and oxygen in addition to calcium but does not contain silicon. Thus, silicon is specifically common to the silicate minerals among them.
Basalts are higher in plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene, olivine and iron content than granites, which are typically higher in quartz, alkali feldspars, and micas.
The difference between quartzite and quartz is that quartzite is a metamorphic rock formed from sandstone under heat and pressure, while quartz is a mineral composed of silicon and oxygen. In quartzite, the grains of sandstone have been recrystallized into a interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals, giving it a more durable and non-porous nature compared to quartz.
Quartz scratches dolomite, while olivine scratches pyroxene.
Fused silica is an engineering-quality, amorphous version of quartz. Source: http://www.makeitfrom.com/material-data/?for=Fused-Silica-Fused-Quartz
Quartz, feldspar, mica, and pyroxene are common members of the silicate mineral family.
compacted