Specimen at a glance
| Mineral | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | SiO2 |
| Mohs hardness | 7 |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Locality | New Jersey |
| Form | Crystal cluster |
| You receive | The exact specimen pictured |
About this specimen
This quartz cluster was collected at Snake Hill (also known as Laurel Hill), a trap-rock outcrop in Hudson County, New Jersey, and part of the same Palisades basalt system responsible for the region’s other famous zeolite and quartz localities like Paterson and the Watchung Mountains. The site has a long history with local collectors, many of whom worked it before it became harder to access.
This specimen carries documented provenance from the David Mudry collection, assembled between the 1970s and 1990s — giving it a paper trail beyond just “New Jersey quartz,” which collectors who care about specimen history tend to value. Quartz (SiO₂) forms here in gas cavities within the cooling lava flow, the same general process behind the zeolites the region is known for. At Mohs hardness 7, it’s a durable, easy-care display piece — a soft, dry cloth is all it needs.
A solid pick for New Jersey locality collectors, especially those who value documented collection history alongside the mineral itself.
Inside the Quartz Crystal
One mineral species, a thousand looks — quartz is the shape-shifter of the mineral world.
The story: Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth’s crust, and it crystallizes in nearly every rock-forming environment on the planet — which is exactly why it shows up in this shop as clear points, milky clusters, smoky towers, ghostly phantoms, and druzy-crusted matrix, all built from the same simple formula.
Why collectors chase it: Because one species covers this much ground: a single collection can hold a dozen genuinely different-looking quartz pieces without ever repeating a mineral. Phantom growth lines, smoky color zoning, and druzy crusts each record a different chapter of how that particular crystal grew.
Care: Quartz shrugs off scratches and most chemicals at Mohs 7, but avoid sudden temperature swings (a hot dishwasher after a cold shelf can crack a large piece) and clean with a soft, dry cloth.
Quartz: the science
- Every natural quartz crystal has a six-sided prism capped by a point, the same trigonal geometry whether it is a thumbnail or a meter long.
- Quartz is piezoelectric: squeeze it and it produces a tiny voltage. That property is why quartz keeps time in watches and electronics.
- At Mohs 7 it scratches glass and steel, which is why quartz sand is the main abrasive in nature and why quartz outlasts almost everything on a beach.
Go deeper
Want the full story on quartz: how it forms, how to identify it, and what makes a great specimen?
Questions about this piece
What is quartz?
Quartz is crystalline silicon dioxide and one of the most common minerals in Earth’s crust. Clear, well-formed points and clusters grow in open cavities and veins where silica-rich fluids had room and time to crystallize.
Where was it found?
This piece comes from New Jersey. We list a locality whenever it is known, because where a mineral formed is part of its story and its value.
How hard is it, and how should I care for it?
It rates 7 on the Mohs scale. Quartz is Mohs 7 and very durable. Dust with a soft brush or rinse in lukewarm water and air dry. Avoid knocking points together and avoid sudden temperature changes.
Is this the exact piece I will receive?
Yes. This listing was photographed individually, and you receive the exact piece shown in the photos.
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