Quartz: -

quartz, (pronounced: kwarts)

Crystalline quartz or low quartz, (SiO2) is a common and
diagnostic mineral in light-colored felsic igneous rocks, such
as granite, diorite, andestie, and rhyolite. Quartz is almost
never found in mafic rocks such as gabbro and basalt.
It is usually clear, but in granite it is also cloudy white or
greyish in color. It can also be dark (as in smokey quartz). Many
gemstones are actually less common colored varieties of quartz.
Examples include purple amythest, yellow citrine, and pink rose
quartz. Quartz is also common in metamorphic rocks such as gneiss.
Because quartz is so resistant to weathering due to its chemical
composition and atomic bonds, it accumulates as the other minerals
in a rock weather away. Light colored beach, aeolian and alluvial
sand is composed of mainly quartz grains.
Quartz in it characteristic crystal form has a hexagonal shape. In
cross-section it has six sides. Commonly the ends of quartz crystals
are teminated by six-sided pyramids. This type of crystal form is
seen in the picture of quartz above. Also seen in the picture are the
fine striations across the crystal faces.