Quartz

Quartz is a mineral made of silicon and oxygen atoms arranged in a repetitive, crystalline structure. This structure gives quartz its stability and unique properties, such as piezoelectricity—where it can generate an electric voltage when squeezed or stretched. Because of this, quartz is widely used in electronic devices like watches, clocks, and computers for keeping accurate time and managing signals. It’s abundant in nature, appearing in rocks like granite, and is valued both as a gemstone and industrial material for its precise, reliable electrical properties.