This review discusses the properties and significance of quartz and silica minerals in geological and technological contexts.
Despite their simple chemical composition, silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2) minerals comprise a complex system with diverse polymorphs of distinct crystal structures and different stabilities and properties. Quartz is arguably the most important mineral throughout human history, from early survival tools to critical materials for modern advanced technology. In addition, quartz and other silica polymorphs and varieties are excellent archivers and important tools for deciphering geological, environmental, and planetary processes and histories.
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Pan et al. (2026) studied this question.
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