AllMineralsRock
Garnet Vs. Quartz
Garnet is a very popular gemstone composed of a group of silicates.[1] Quartz is also a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is silicon dioxide.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Garnet and Quartz
For a quick recap of the differences garnet and quartz:- For chemical formulas, garnet is X3Y2(SiO4)4 while quartz is SiO2.
- While both garnet and quartz can be vitreous, in terms of luster, garnet can be adamantine, resinous or submetallic and quartz can be greasy or waxy.
- Garnet streaks colorless while quartz streaks white.
- While both garnet and quartz can be commonly red or yellow, garnet is often black, blue, brown, gray, green, orange, pink or purple.
- Garnet's specific gravity is higher than quartz - garnet ranges from 3.4 to 4.3 and quartz ranges from 2.651 to 2.91.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Garnet and Quartz
The similarities of garnet and quartz include:- Garnet and quartz both can be opaque, translucent or transparent.
- Garnet's rarity is similar to quartz.
- Garnet's hardness overlaps with quartz - garnet ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 and quartz is 7 on the Moh's scale.
Summary of Garnet
Garnet is a popular mineral that is commonly found in metamorphic rocks. It is a silicate mineral that is composed of calcium, iron, magnesium, aluminum, and chromium. Garnet has a distinct reddish-brown color, but it can also be found in shades of green, yellow, orange, and black. It is a hard mineral and has a Mohs hardness scale rating of 6.5-7.5.Summary of Quartz
Quartz is a mineral that is composed of silicon and oxygen atoms arranged in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra. It is one of the most abundant minerals found in the Earth's crust. Quartz can be found in a variety of colors such as white, pink, purple, brown, gray, and black. It is also known for its unique crystal structure, which is hexagonal in shape, and its hardness, which is 7 on the Mohs scale.Table Comparison of Garnet vs Quartz
| Garnet (src) | Quartz (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | transparent, translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | X3Y2(SiO4)4 | SiO2 |
| Chemical Composition | a group of silicates | silicon dioxide |
| Specific Gravity | 3.4, 4.3 | 2.651, 2.91 |
| Hardness | 6.5, 7.5 | 7 |
| Streak | colorless | white |
| Refractive Index | 1.72, 1.95 | 1.544, 1.553 |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: red, blue, gray, pink, black, brown, green, orange, purple, yellow |
common: red, yellow sometimes: blue, gray, pink, black, brown, green, white, orange, purple, violet, colorless, multicolor |
| Category | nesosilicate | silicate |
| Birefringence | none | δ = +0.009 (B-G interval) |
| Fracture | conchoidal, uneven | conchoidal, uneven |