Diamond vs Quartz

Property Diamond Quartz
الصيغة الكيميائية C SiO2
النظام البلوري Cubic (Isometric) Trigonal
صنف المعدن 01 Native Elements 09 Silicates
صلادة موس 10.0 7.0
اللون Colorless, yellow, brown, blue, green, pink Colorless, white, purple, pink, brown, black
اللمعان Adamantine Vitreous
لون الخط None White
الشفافية Transparent Transparent
الانفصام Perfect octahedral {111} None
الكسر Conchoidal Conchoidal

Key Differences

  • Diamond (hardness 10) is the hardest known mineral; quartz rates 7 on the Mohs scale.
  • Diamond is pure carbon (C); quartz is silicon dioxide (SiO2).
  • Diamond has an adamantine luster; quartz has a vitreous (glassy) luster.
  • Diamond has perfect octahedral cleavage; quartz has no cleavage and fractures conchoidally.
  • Diamond is far rarer and more expensive; quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's crust.

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