RocksdayGoshenite vs Quartz
To tell Goshenite from Quartz: Quartz is softer and usually ends in a point.
Colorless beryl — the same mineral as emerald and aquamarine, without the impurities that give those their color.
Photo: Géry PARENT, CC BY-SA 3.0
The second most abundant mineral in Earth's crust. Clear crystals grow as six-sided prisms capped by a pointed termination, and quartz shows up as grains in sand, granite and countless other rocks.
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
Key differences
- Quartz is softer and usually ends in a point.
Side by side
| Property | Goshenite | Quartz |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 7.5–8 | 7 |
| Luster | Vitreous | Vitreous |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Clear, White | Clear, White, Gray |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal | Trigonal |
| Specific gravity | 2.7–2.9 | 2.65 |
| Formula | Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈ | SiO₂ |
| Found in | Goshen, Massachusetts; Minas Gerais, Brazil | Hot Springs, Arkansas; Minas Gerais, Brazil |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify goshenite
- Water-clear six-sided columns with flat ends.
- Harder than quartz.
- Often in pegmatites with other beryl.
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Full Goshenite guide →How to identify quartz
- Scratches glass easily and can't be scratched by a steel knife.
- Six-sided prisms with pointed ends when it forms crystals.
- Breaks with curved, shell-like (conchoidal) fractures — no flat cleavage planes.
- Does not fizz in vinegar or dilute acid.
Crystal system: Trigonal
Full Quartz guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between goshenite and quartz?
Goshenite is a mineral (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈) with a Mohs hardness of 7.5–8 and a vitreous luster, usually colorless or white. Quartz is a mineral (SiO₂) with a Mohs hardness of 7 and a vitreous luster, usually colorless, white or gray.
How can you tell goshenite from quartz?
Quartz is softer and usually ends in a point.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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