Quartz is a naturally occurring mineral composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is known for its exceptional hardness, ranking 7 on the Mohs scale. Quartz is a key component in the production of glass and ceramics due to its high melting point. It exhibits piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties, making it valuable in electronic applications. Quartz crystals are widely used in timekeeping and oscillatory circuits for their remarkable precision and stability.