Beta quartz vs Quartz
Beta quartz and Quartz are commonly confused, and 2 measured properties separate them — crystal system most clearly.
Beta quartz vs Quartz
Beta quartz
SiO2
The high-temperature form of quartz — hexagonal rather than trigonal above 573 °C, and the reason a fired ceramic body can crack on cooling.
Quartz
SiO2
The second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, and the reference point for hardness 7 on the Mohs scale.
| Property | Beta quartz | Quartz |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal system Categorical values can be listed side by side but not ordered or subtracted. | hexagonal | trigonal |
| Density | 2.53 g/cm³ | 2.65–2.66 g/cm³ higher |
| Lustre Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | Not known | vitreous |
| Melting point Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | 1670 °C | Not known |
| Mohs hardness Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | Not known | 7 |
| Streak Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | Not known | white |
Why these get confused
a hexagonal crystal outline in a volcanic rock is usually a paramorph — beta quartz habit with alpha quartz structure inside
The confusion is a real and documented one, not a resemblance we have invented.