What is the difference between Quartz and Feldspar?

Quartz and feldspar are two examples of minerals that make up the earth's crust. There are some differences between the two. In terms of composition, both minerals are not the same. Silicon and oxygen are two major constituents of quartz, and its chemical composition is usually represented as silicon dioxide SiO2.

On the other hand, feldspar is used to refer to any of a large group of minerals that make up about 60 percent of the earth's outer crust. Minerals containing aluminum and silica ion, potassium oxide, calcium oxide, sodium oxide, are usually regarded as feldspar. Quartz is usually formed out of sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic rocks, whereas feldspar is formed out of or pegmatite or granite.

Another difference is that feldspar is not as hard as quartz; their hardness can easily be determined using Moh’s hardness scale. Also, while feldspars usually appear in different colors like pink, green, white, gray, quartz has different colors such as yellow, rose, brown, violet, etc.

There are a lot of people who are familiar with quartz, but not everyone will be familiar with feldspar. If there is one thing that you should know, it is this, quartz and feldspar are known to be similar to each other, so they may be confusing in the beginning. One difference is that quartz is known to appear more in crystals as compared to feldspar.

Another difference is when you look at them closely. You will notice that quartz is considered to be clearer while feldspar may have a more cloudy appearance. Another difference is their overall shape. Quartz will usually have six-sided spears. The crystals of feldspar are usually in blocks.