Silica
A group of related mineral species
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About Silica
Silica is the trivial name for the chemical compound silicon dioxide, SiO2. The term silica comprises all polymorphs of silicon dioxide. In geoscience literature, the term silica also includes silicic acid, H4SiO4, which forms when silica polymorphs and silicate minerals are dissolved in water.
Two groups of silica polymorphs can be distinguished by their molecular structure:
1. Polymorphs that are made of SiO4 tetrahedra: α-quartz, β-quartz, moganite, α-tridymite, β-tridymite, α-cristobalite, β-cristobalite, keatite, coesite and silica glass (lechatelierite) are pure silica polymorphs. Opal-AG, opal-AN, opal-C, opal-CT, melanophlogite and chibaite are mostly poorly crystalline silica polymorphs that contain water and sometimes other impurities. Structurally, all these polymorphs are network silicates.
2. High-pressure polymorphs in which each silicon atom is surrounded by six oxygen atoms: stishovite and seifertite. Since these polymorphs are not made of SiO4 tetrahedra, they are not structurally related to silicates.
Two groups of silica polymorphs can be distinguished by their molecular structure:
1. Polymorphs that are made of SiO4 tetrahedra: α-quartz, β-quartz, moganite, α-tridymite, β-tridymite, α-cristobalite, β-cristobalite, keatite, coesite and silica glass (lechatelierite) are pure silica polymorphs. Opal-AG, opal-AN, opal-C, opal-CT, melanophlogite and chibaite are mostly poorly crystalline silica polymorphs that contain water and sometimes other impurities. Structurally, all these polymorphs are network silicates.
2. High-pressure polymorphs in which each silicon atom is surrounded by six oxygen atoms: stishovite and seifertite. Since these polymorphs are not made of SiO4 tetrahedra, they are not structurally related to silicates.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
10916
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:10916:7
Similar Names
Age distribution
Recorded ages:
Phanerozoic : 280 Ma to 55.7 Ma - based on 35 recorded ages.
Sample ages:
| Sample ID | Recorded age | Geologic Time | Dating method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 57.7 to 55.7 Ma | Paleogene | Ar-Ar |
| 2 | 61.13 ± 0.19 Ma | Paleocene | Ar-Ar |
| 3 | 64.5 Ma | Paleocene | Pb-Pb |
| 4 | 91 Ma | Late/Upper Cretaceous | U-Pb |
| 5 | 115 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | U-Pb |
| 6 | 120 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | 206Pb/238U |
| 7 | 121 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | 206Pb/238U |
| 8 | 121 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | Pb-Pb |
| 9 | 121.3 ± 2.6 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | Rb-Sr |
| 10 | 129 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | U-Pb |
| 11 | 130 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | U-Pb |
| 12 | 135 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | 206Pb/238U |
| 13 | 135 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | U-Pb |
| 14 | 137 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | U-Pb |
| 15 | 153 Ma | Jurassic | U-Pb |
| 16 | 172 Ma | Middle Jurassic | U-Pb |
| 17 | 180 Ma | Early Jurassic | 206Pb/238U |
| 18 | 180 Ma | Early Jurassic | U-Pb |
| 19 | 215 Ma | Late/Upper Triassic | U-Pb |
| 20 | 280 Ma | Cisuralian | U-Pb |
Sample references:
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0013132 | Tridymite | Hirose T, Kihara K, Okuno M, Fujinami S, Shinoda K (2005) X-ray, DTA and Raman studies of monoclinic tridymite and its higher temperature orthorhombic modification with varying temperature. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences 100 55-69 |  | 2005 | synthetic | 0 | 298 |
| 0020744 | Tridymite | Lee S, Xu H (2019) Using powder XRD and pair distribution function to determine anisotropic atomic displacement parameters of orthorhombic tridymite and tetragonal cristobalite Acta Crystallographica B75 https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052520619000933 | 2019 | rhyolitic rock, New Mexico, USA | 0 | 293 | |
| 0020745 | Cristobalite | Lee S, Xu H (2019) Using powder XRD and pair distribution function to determine anisotropic atomic displacement parameters of orthorhombic tridymite and tetragonal cristobalite Acta Crystallographica B75 https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052520619000933 | 2019 | rhyolitic rock, New Mexico, USA | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006212 | Quartz | Antao S M, Hassan I, Wang J, Lee P L, Toby B H (2008) State-of-the-art high-resolution powder x-ray diffraction (HRPXRD) illustrated with Rietveld structure refinement of quartz, sodalite, tremolite, and meionite The Canadian Mineralogist 46 1501-1509 | | 2008 | not specified | 0 | 293 |
| 0004493 | Melanophlogite | Tribaudino M, Artoni A, Mavris C, Bersani D, Lottici P P, Belletti D (2008) Single-crystal X-ray and Raman investigation on melanophlogite from Varano Marchesi (Parma, Italy) American Mineralogist 93 88-94 | | 2008 | Case Montanini, Varano Marchesi, Parma, Italy | 0 | 293 |
| 0004267 | Quartz | Ikuta D, Kawame N, Banno S, Hirajima T, Ito K, Rakovan J F, Downs R T, Tamada O (2007) First in situ X-ray diffraction identification of coesite and retrograde quartz on a glass thin section of an ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rock and their crystal structure details American Mineralogist 92 57-63 | | 2007 | Oomine granite, Tenkawa-mura, Nara, Southwest Japan | 0 | 293 |
| 0004266 | Quartz | Ikuta D, Kawame N, Banno S, Hirajima T, Ito K, Rakovan J F, Downs R T, Tamada O (2007) First in situ X-ray diffraction identification of coesite and retrograde quartz on a glass thin section of an ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rock and their crystal structure details American Mineralogist 92 57-63 | | 2007 | Oomine granite, Tenkawa-mura, Nara, Southwest Japan | 0 | 293 |
| 0004265 | Quartz | Ikuta D, Kawame N, Banno S, Hirajima T, Ito K, Rakovan J F, Downs R T, Tamada O (2007) First in situ X-ray diffraction identification of coesite and retrograde quartz on a glass thin section of an ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rock and their crystal structure details American Mineralogist 92 57-63 | | 2007 | Yangkou meta-igneous complex in the middle part of the Sulu UHP terrain, eastern China | 0 | 293 |
| 0004264 | Coesite | Ikuta D, Kawame N, Banno S, Hirajima T, Ito K, Rakovan J F, Downs R T, Tamada O (2007) First in situ X-ray diffraction identification of coesite and retrograde quartz on a glass thin section of an ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rock and their crystal structure details American Mineralogist 92 57-63 | | 2007 | Yangkou meta-igneous complex in the middle part of the Sulu UHP terrain, eastern China | 0 | 293 |
| 0008552 | Tridymite | Graetsch H (2001) X-ray powder diffraction study on the modulated high temperature forms of SiO2 tridymite between 110 and 220 C Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 28 313-321 | 2001 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012866 | Quartz | Gualtieri A F (2000) Accuracy of XRPD QPA using the combined Rietveld-RIR method Journal of Applied Crystallography 33 267-278 | 2000 | Baveno, Novara, Italy | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006616 | Tridymite | Graetsch H, Topalovic-Dierdorf I (1996) 29Si MAS NMR spectrum and superstructure of modulated tridymite L3-To(MX-1) European Journal of Mineralogy 8 103-113 | 1996 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006615 | Tridymite | Graetsch H, Topalovic-Dierdorf I (1996) 29Si MAS NMR spectrum and superstructure of modulated tridymite L3-To(MX-1) European Journal of Mineralogy 8 103-113 | 1996 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001629 | Cristobalite | Downs R T, Palmer D C (1994) The pressure behavior of alpha cristobalite American Mineralogist 79 9-14 | | 1994 | Ellora Caves, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0015462 | Quartz | Hazen R M, Finger L W, Hemley R J, Mao H K (1989) High-pressure crystal chemistry and amorphization of alpha-quartz Solid State Communications 72 507-511 | 1989 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018749 | Quartz | Gibbs G V, Boisen M B, Downs R T, Lasaga A C (1988) Mathematical Modeling of the structures and bulk moduli of TX2 quartz Materials Research Society Symposia Proceedings 121 155-165 | 1988 | theoretical | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018754 | Cristobalite | Gibbs G V, Boisen M B, Downs R T, Lasaga A C (1988) Mathematical Modeling of the structures and bulk moduli of TX2 quartz Materials Research Society Symposia Proceedings 121 155-165 | 1988 | theoretical | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012930 | Cristobalite | Pluth J J, Smith J V, Faber J (1985) Crystal structure of low cristobalite at 10, 293, and 473 K: Variation of framework geometry with temperature Journal of Applied Physics 57 1045-1049 | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012929 | Cristobalite | Pluth J J, Smith J V, Faber J (1985) Crystal structure of low cristobalite at 10, 293, and 473 K: Variation of framework geometry with temperature Journal of Applied Physics 57 1045-1049 | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012928 | Cristobalite | Pluth J J, Smith J V, Faber J (1985) Crystal structure of low cristobalite at 10, 293, and 473 K: Variation of framework geometry with temperature Journal of Applied Physics 57 1045-1049 | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0013504 | Stishovite | Hill R J, Newton M D, Gibbs G V (1983) A crystal chemical study of stishovite Journal of Solid State Chemistry 47 185-200 | 1983 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010855 | Coesite | Sasaki S, Chen H K, Prewitt C T, Nakajima Y (1983) Re-examination of "P2_1/a coesite" Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 164 67-77 | | 1983 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0009625 | Tridymite | Konnert J H, Appleman D E (1978) The crystal structure of low tridymite Acta Crystallographica B34 391-403 |  | 1978 | Plumas County, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0020734 | Tridymite | Kato V K, Nukui A (1976) Die kristallstruktur des monoklinen tief-tridymits Acta Crystallographica B32 2486-2491 | | 1976 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0000531 | Tridymite | Dollase W A, Baur W H (1976) The superstructure of meteoritic low tridymite solved by computer simulation American Mineralogist 61 971-978 | | 1976 | Steinbach meteorite, Saxony, Germany | 0 | 293 |
| 0010757 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010756 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010755 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010754 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010753 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010752 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010751 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010750 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010749 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010748 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0010747 | Cristobalite | Peacor D R (1973) High-temperature single-crystal study of the cristobalite inversion Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 138 274-298 | | 1973 | Ellora Caves, Hyderabad State, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0009403 | Stishovite | Baur W H, Khan A A (1971) Rutile-type compounds. VI. SiO2, GeO2 and a comparison with other rutile-type structures Acta Crystallographica B27 2133-2139 | | 1971 | Meteor Crater, Arizona, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0010692 | Coesite | Araki T, Zoltai T (1969) Refinement of a coesite structure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 129 381-387 | | 1969 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0020733 | Tridymite | Dollase W A (1967) The crystal structure at 220 C of orthothombic high tridymite from the Steinbach meteorite Acta Crystallographica 23 617-623 | | 1967 | Steinbach meteorite | 0 | 293 |
| 0010623 | Cristobalite | Dollase W A (1965) Reinvestigation of the structure of low cristobalite Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 121 369-377 | | 1965 | Ellora, Hyderabad, India | 0 | 293 |
| 0013133 | Tridymite | Hirose T, Kihara K, Okuno M, Fujinami S, Shinoda K (2005) X-ray, DTA and Raman studies of monoclinic tridymite and its higher temperature orthorhombic modification with varying temperature. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences 100 55-69 | | 2005 | synthetic | 0 | 373 |
| 0008553 | Tridymite | Graetsch H (2001) X-ray powder diffraction study on the modulated high temperature forms of SiO2 tridymite between 110 and 220 C Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 28 313-321 | 2001 | synthetic | 0 | 388 | |
| 0013134 | Tridymite | Hirose T, Kihara K, Okuno M, Fujinami S, Shinoda K (2005) X-ray, DTA and Raman studies of monoclinic tridymite and its higher temperature orthorhombic modification with varying temperature. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences 100 55-69 | | 2005 | synthetic | 0 | 413 |
| 0001630 | Cristobalite | Downs R T, Palmer D C (1994) The pressure behavior of alpha cristobalite American Mineralogist 79 9-14 | | 1994 | Ellora Caves, India | 0.19 | 293 |
| 0018342 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | Ellora Caves, India | 0.2 | 293 | |
| 0018343 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | Ellora Caves, India | 0.6 | 293 | |
| 0001631 | Cristobalite | Downs R T, Palmer D C (1994) The pressure behavior of alpha cristobalite American Mineralogist 79 9-14 | | 1994 | Ellora Caves, India | 0.73 | 293 |
| 0001632 | Cristobalite | Downs R T, Palmer D C (1994) The pressure behavior of alpha cristobalite American Mineralogist 79 9-14 | | 1994 | Ellora Caves, India | 1.05 | 293 |
| 0015463 | Quartz | Hazen R M, Finger L W, Hemley R J, Mao H K (1989) High-pressure crystal chemistry and amorphization of alpha-quartz Solid State Communications 72 507-511 | 1989 | synthetic | 2 | 293 | |
| 0014542 | Cristobalite | Dove M T, Craig M S, Keen D A, Marshall W G, Redfern S A T, Trachenko K O, Tucker M G (2000) Crystal structure of the high-pressure monoclinic phase-II of cristobalite, SiO2 Mineralogical Magazine 64 569-576 | | 2000 | synthetic | 3.5 | 293 |
| 0014541 | Cristobalite | Dove M T, Craig M S, Keen D A, Marshall W G, Redfern S A T, Trachenko K O, Tucker M G (2000) Crystal structure of the high-pressure monoclinic phase-II of cristobalite, SiO2 Mineralogical Magazine 64 569-576 | | 2000 | synthetic | 3.5 | 293 |
| 0018344 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | Ellora Caves, India | 3.6 | 293 | |
| 0020171 | Cristobalite | Matsui M, Sato T, Funamori N (2014) Crystal structures and stabilities of cristobalite-helium phases at high pressures American Mineralogist 99 184-189 | 2014 | calculated structure | 4 | 293 | |
| 0018349 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Note z-coordinate of O2 is corrected Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | Ellora Caves, India | 4.9 | 293 | |
| 0015464 | Quartz | Hazen R M, Finger L W, Hemley R J, Mao H K (1989) High-pressure crystal chemistry and amorphization of alpha-quartz Solid State Communications 72 507-511 | 1989 | synthetic | 5.1 | 293 | |
| 0018345 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | Ellora Caves, India | 5.4 | 293 | |
| 0018346 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | Ellora Caves, India | 7.3 | 293 | |
| 0018350 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | Ellora Caves, India | 7.4 | 293 | |
| 0015465 | Quartz | Hazen R M, Finger L W, Hemley R J, Mao H K (1989) High-pressure crystal chemistry and amorphization of alpha-quartz Solid State Communications 72 507-511 | 1989 | synthetic | 8 | 293 | |
| 0018347 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | Ellora Caves, India | 9.1 | 293 | |
| 0015466 | Quartz | Hazen R M, Finger L W, Hemley R J, Mao H K (1989) High-pressure crystal chemistry and amorphization of alpha-quartz Solid State Communications 72 507-511 | 1989 | synthetic | 9.5 | 293 | |
| 0020170 | Cristobalite | Matsui M, Sato T, Funamori N (2014) Crystal structures and stabilities of cristobalite-helium phases at high pressures American Mineralogist 99 184-189 | 2014 | calculated structure | 10 | 293 | |
| 0018351 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | Ellora Caves, India | 10.1 | 293 | |
| 0015467 | Quartz | Hazen R M, Finger L W, Hemley R J, Mao H K (1989) High-pressure crystal chemistry and amorphization of alpha-quartz Solid State Communications 72 507-511 | 1989 | synthetic | 12.5 | 293 | |
| 0006362 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 298 | ||
| 0008971 | Quartz | Rosa A L, El-Barbary A A, Heggie M I, Briddon P R (2005) Structural and thermodynamic properties of water related defects in alpha-quartz Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 323-331 | 2005 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008747 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 0.0001 | 293 | ||
| 0008746 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 0.0001 | 293 | ||
| 0008735 | Stishovite | Yamanaka T, Fukuda T, Tsuchiya J (2002) Bonding character of SiO2 stishovite under high pressures up to 30 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 633-641 | 2002 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0002748 | Melanophlogite | Nakagawa T, Kihara K, Harada K (2001) The crystal structure of low melanophlogite American Mineralogist 86 1506-1512 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001739 | Stishovite | Smyth J R, Swope R J, Pawley A R (1995) H in rutile-type compounds: II. Crystal chemistry of Al substitution in H-bearing stishovite American Mineralogist 80 454-456 | | 1995 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001738 | Stishovite | Smyth J R, Swope R J, Pawley A R (1995) H in rutile-type compounds: II. Crystal chemistry of Al substitution in H-bearing stishovite American Mineralogist 80 454-456 | | 1995 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0020708 | Cristobalite | Le Bail A (1995) Modelling the silica glass structure by the Rietveld method Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 183 39-42 | 1995 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0011007 | Quartz | Glinnemann J, King H E, Schulz H, Hahn T, La Placa S J, Dacol F (1992) Crystal structures of the low-temperature quartz-type phases of SiO2 and GeO2 at elevated pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 198 177-212 | | 1992 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001306 | Stishovite | Ross N L, Shu J F, Hazen R M, Gasparik T (1990) High-pressure crystal chemistry of stishovite American Mineralogist 75 739-747 | | 1990 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0007437 | Stishovite | Spackman M A, Hill R J, Gibbs G V (1987) Exploration of structure and bonding in stishovite with Fourier and Pseudoaton Refinement methods using single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction data Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 14 139-150 | 1987 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007436 | Stishovite | Spackman M A, Hill R J, Gibbs G V (1987) Exploration of structure and bonding in stishovite with Fourier and Pseudoaton Refinement methods using single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction data Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 14 139-150 | 1987 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007435 | Stishovite | Spackman M A, Hill R J, Gibbs G V (1987) Exploration of structure and bonding in stishovite with Fourier and Pseudoaton Refinement methods using single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction data Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 14 139-150 | 1987 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007434 | Stishovite | Spackman M A, Hill R J, Gibbs G V (1987) Exploration of structure and bonding in stishovite with Fourier and Pseudoaton Refinement methods using single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction data Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 14 139-150 | 1987 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007382 | Stishovite | Endo S, Akai T, Akahama Y, Wakatsuki M, Nakamura T, Tomii Y, Koto K, Ito Y, Tokonami M (1986) High temperature X-ray study of single crystal stishovite synthesized with Li2WO4 as flux Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 13 146-151 | 1986 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007381 | Stishovite | Endo S, Akai T, Akahama Y, Wakatsuki M, Nakamura T, Tomii Y, Koto K, Ito Y, Tokonami M (1986) High temperature X-ray study of single crystal stishovite synthesized with Li2WO4 as flux Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 13 146-151 | 1986 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007380 | Stishovite | Endo S, Akai T, Akahama Y, Wakatsuki M, Nakamura T, Tomii Y, Koto K, Ito Y, Tokonami M (1986) High temperature X-ray study of single crystal stishovite synthesized with Li2WO4 as flux Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 13 146-151 | 1986 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007379 | Stishovite | Endo S, Akai T, Akahama Y, Wakatsuki M, Nakamura T, Tomii Y, Koto K, Ito Y, Tokonami M (1986) High temperature X-ray study of single crystal stishovite synthesized with Li2WO4 as flux Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 13 146-151 | 1986 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007378 | Stishovite | Endo S, Akai T, Akahama Y, Wakatsuki M, Nakamura T, Tomii Y, Koto K, Ito Y, Tokonami M (1986) High temperature X-ray study of single crystal stishovite synthesized with Li2WO4 as flux Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 13 146-151 | 1986 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0010856 | Melanophlogite | Gies H (1983) Studies on clathrasils. III. Crystal structure of melanophlogite, a natural clathrate compound of silica Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 164 247-257 | | 1983 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000817 | Coesite | Levien L, Prewitt C T (1981) High-pressure crystal structure and compressibility of coesite American Mineralogist 66 324-333 | | 1981 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000816 | Coesite | Levien L, Prewitt C T (1981) High-pressure crystal structure and compressibility of coesite American Mineralogist 66 324-333 | | 1981 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000789 | Quartz | Levien L, Prewitt C T, Weidner D J (1980) Structure and elastic properties of quartz at pressure American Mineralogist 65 920-930 | | 1980 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010809 | Coesite | Kirfe A, Will G, Arndt J (1979) A new phase of coesite SiO2 it is not really a new phase Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 149 315-326 | | 1979 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010605 | Quartz | Arnold H (1962) Die struktur des hochquarzes Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 117 467-469 | | 1962 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010604 | Quartz | Arnold H (1962) Die struktur des hochquarzes Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 117 467-469 | | 1962 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018049 | Quartz | Brill R, Hermann C, Peters C (1939) Studien ueber chemische Bindung mittels Fourieranalyse III. Die Bindung im Quarz _cod_database_code 1011172 Naturwissenschaften 27 676-677 | 1939 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017992 | Quartz | Wei (1935) Die Bindung im Quarz _cod_database_code 1011097 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 92 355-362 | 1935 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017659 | Cristobalite | Nieuwenkamp W (1935) Die Kristallstruktur des Tief-Cristobalits Si O2 _cod_database_code 1010938 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 92 82-88 | 1935 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017646 | Cristobalite | Barth T (1932) The Cristobalite Structures. I. High-Cristobalite _cod_database_code 1010921 American Journal of Science 23 350-356 | 1932 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0018071 | Quartz | Wyckoff R (1926) Kriterien fur hexagonale Raumgruppen und die Kristallstruktur von beta Quarz. _cod_database_code 1011200 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 63 507-537 | 1926 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017674 | Cristobalite | Wyckoff R (1925) The crystal structure of the high temperature form of Cristobalite (SiO2) _cod_database_code 1010954 American Journal of Science 9 448-459 | 1925 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017665 | Cristobalite | Wyckoff R (1925) Die Kristallstruktur von $-beta-Crystobalit Si O2 (bei hohen Temperaturen stabile Form). _cod_database_code 1010944 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 62 189-200 | 1925 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0006363 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 398 | ||
| 0006364 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 498 | ||
| 0006365 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 597 | ||
| 0006366 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 697 | ||
| 0006367 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 773 | ||
| 0006368 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 813 | ||
| 0006369 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 838 | ||
| 0006370 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 848 | ||
| 0006371 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 854 | ||
| 0006372 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 859 | ||
| 0006373 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 869 | ||
| 0006374 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 891 | ||
| 0006375 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 920 | ||
| 0006376 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 972 | ||
| 0006377 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 1012 | ||
| 0006378 | Quartz | Kihara K (1990) An X-ray study of the temperature dependence of the quartz structure European Journal of Mineralogy 2 63-77 | 1990 | 0 | 1078 | ||
| 0001307 | Stishovite | Ross N L, Shu J F, Hazen R M, Gasparik T (1990) High-pressure crystal chemistry of stishovite American Mineralogist 75 739-747 | | 1990 | 1.7 | 293 | |
| 0000790 | Quartz | Levien L, Prewitt C T, Weidner D J (1980) Structure and elastic properties of quartz at pressure American Mineralogist 65 920-930 | | 1980 | 2.07 | 293 | |
| 0000818 | Coesite | Levien L, Prewitt C T (1981) High-pressure crystal structure and compressibility of coesite American Mineralogist 66 324-333 | | 1981 | 2.18 | 293 | |
| 0008748 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 2.248 | 293 | ||
| 0001308 | Stishovite | Ross N L, Shu J F, Hazen R M, Gasparik T (1990) High-pressure crystal chemistry of stishovite American Mineralogist 75 739-747 | | 1990 | 2.5 | 293 | |
| 0008749 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 2.84 | 293 | ||
| 0000819 | Coesite | Levien L, Prewitt C T (1981) High-pressure crystal structure and compressibility of coesite American Mineralogist 66 324-333 | | 1981 | 3.15 | 293 | |
| 0018348 | Cristobalite | Dera P, Lazarz J D, Prakapenka V B, Barkley M, Downs R T (2011) New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO2 cristobalite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 38 517-529 | 2011 | 3.5 | 293 | ||
| 0000791 | Quartz | Levien L, Prewitt C T, Weidner D J (1980) Structure and elastic properties of quartz at pressure American Mineralogist 65 920-930 | | 1980 | 3.76 | 293 | |
| 0008750 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 3.763 | 293 | ||
| 0000820 | Coesite | Levien L, Prewitt C T (1981) High-pressure crystal structure and compressibility of coesite American Mineralogist 66 324-333 | | 1981 | 3.87 | 293 | |
| 0011008 | Quartz | Glinnemann J, King H E, Schulz H, Hahn T, La Placa S J, Dacol F (1992) Crystal structures of the low-temperature quartz-type phases of SiO2 and GeO2 at elevated pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 198 177-212 | | 1992 | 4 | 293 | |
| 0001309 | Stishovite | Ross N L, Shu J F, Hazen R M, Gasparik T (1990) High-pressure crystal chemistry of stishovite American Mineralogist 75 739-747 | | 1990 | 4 | 293 | |
| 0008751 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 4.45 | 293 | ||
| 0000821 | Coesite | Levien L, Prewitt C T (1981) High-pressure crystal structure and compressibility of coesite American Mineralogist 66 324-333 | | 1981 | 4.6 | 293 | |
| 0001310 | Stishovite | Ross N L, Shu J F, Hazen R M, Gasparik T (1990) High-pressure crystal chemistry of stishovite American Mineralogist 75 739-747 | | 1990 | 4.7 | 293 | |
| 0000792 | Quartz | Levien L, Prewitt C T, Weidner D J (1980) Structure and elastic properties of quartz at pressure American Mineralogist 65 920-930 | | 1980 | 4.86 | 293 | |
| 0008752 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 5.01 | 293 | ||
| 0000822 | Coesite | Levien L, Prewitt C T (1981) High-pressure crystal structure and compressibility of coesite American Mineralogist 66 324-333 | | 1981 | 5.19 | 293 | |
| 0008736 | Stishovite | Yamanaka T, Fukuda T, Tsuchiya J (2002) Bonding character of SiO2 stishovite under high pressures up to 30 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 633-641 | 2002 | 5.23 | 293 | ||
| 0000793 | Quartz | Levien L, Prewitt C T, Weidner D J (1980) Structure and elastic properties of quartz at pressure American Mineralogist 65 920-930 | | 1980 | 5.58 | 293 | |
| 0000794 | Quartz | Levien L, Prewitt C T, Weidner D J (1980) Structure and elastic properties of quartz at pressure American Mineralogist 65 920-930 | | 1980 | 6.14 | 293 | |
| 0008753 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 6.16 | 293 | ||
| 0008754 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 6.509 | 293 | ||
| 0011009 | Quartz | Glinnemann J, King H E, Schulz H, Hahn T, La Placa S J, Dacol F (1992) Crystal structures of the low-temperature quartz-type phases of SiO2 and GeO2 at elevated pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 198 177-212 | | 1992 | 7.2 | 293 | |
| 0008755 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 7.814 | 293 | ||
| 0008756 | Coesite | Angel R J, Shaw C S J, Gibbs G V (2003) Compression mechanisms of coesite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 167-176 | 2003 | 8.68 | 293 | ||
| 0001311 | Stishovite | Ross N L, Shu J F, Hazen R M, Gasparik T (1990) High-pressure crystal chemistry of stishovite American Mineralogist 75 739-747 | | 1990 | 9 | 293 | |
| 0008737 | Stishovite | Yamanaka T, Fukuda T, Tsuchiya J (2002) Bonding character of SiO2 stishovite under high pressures up to 30 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 633-641 | 2002 | 9.26 | 293 | ||
| 0011010 | Quartz | Glinnemann J, King H E, Schulz H, Hahn T, La Placa S J, Dacol F (1992) Crystal structures of the low-temperature quartz-type phases of SiO2 and GeO2 at elevated pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 198 177-212 | | 1992 | 10.2 | 293 | |
| 0001312 | Stishovite | Ross N L, Shu J F, Hazen R M, Gasparik T (1990) High-pressure crystal chemistry of stishovite American Mineralogist 75 739-747 | | 1990 | 11 | 293 | |
| 0008738 | Stishovite | Yamanaka T, Fukuda T, Tsuchiya J (2002) Bonding character of SiO2 stishovite under high pressures up to 30 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 633-641 | 2002 | 12.3 | 293 | ||
| 0001313 | Stishovite | Ross N L, Shu J F, Hazen R M, Gasparik T (1990) High-pressure crystal chemistry of stishovite American Mineralogist 75 739-747 | | 1990 | 15 | 293 | |
| 0008739 | Stishovite | Yamanaka T, Fukuda T, Tsuchiya J (2002) Bonding character of SiO2 stishovite under high pressures up to 30 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 633-641 | 2002 | 29.1 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Varieties of Silica
| Float-stone | A coarse, porous, friable variety of impure silica, comprised chiefly of the siliceous skeletons of infusoria. |
Relationship of Silica to other Species
Silica Members:
| Chibaite | SiO2 · n(CH4, C2H6, C3H8, i-C4H10) (n = 3/17 (max)) | Iso. m3(2/m3) : Fd3 |
| Coesite | SiO2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Cristobalite | SiO2 | Tet. 422 : P41212 |
| 'Keatite' | SiO2 | Tet. 422 : P43212 |
| Lechatelierite | SiO2 | Amor. |
| Melanophlogite | 46SiO2 · 6(N2,CO2) · 2(CH4,N2) | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) |
| Mogánite | SiO2 | Mon. 2/m |
| 'Opal-AG' | SiO2 · nH2O | |
| 'Opal-AN' | SiO2 · nH2O | |
| 'Opal-C' | SiO2 · nH2O | |
| 'Opal-CT' | SiO2 · nH2O | |
| Quartz | SiO2 | Trig. 32 : P3121 |
| 'Quartz-beta' | SiO2 | Hex. 622 : P6422 |
| Stishovite | SiO2 | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P42/mnm |
| Tridymite | SiO2 | Tric. 1 |
| 'β-Cristobalite' | SiO2 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m |
| 'β-Tridymite' | SiO2 |
Click on any node to view relationships. Formula-derived relationship network for the group members above. Use Find related species to add formula-neighbour species outside the current group view. Solid links show inferred chemical differences; dashed violet links show same-formula crystallographic differences. Hydration states are not treated as relationship changes. These relationships do not imply any real-world substitution reactions between these species.
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Silica in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
- Igneous rock
- Normal crystalline igneous rock
- Exotic crystalline igneous rock
- Fragmental/volcaniclastic igneous rock and sediment
- Pegmatite
- Sedimentary rock and sediment
- Metamorphic rock
- Pyrometamorphic rock
- Queluzite
- Meta-igneous rock
- Metasedimentary rock
- High-grade metamorphic rock
- Very low to low-grade metamorphic rock
- Schist
- Contact metamorphic rock
- Metasomatic-rock
- Epidosite
Internet Links for Silica
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-10916.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Selvino, Bergamo Province, Lombardy, Italy