QUARTZ
Quartz's both alpha and beta forms are chiral. It's chemical formula is SiO2 and the atoms are linked in a continuous framework of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra which forms a hard crystalline compound.
Quartz crystals are hexagonal in form and come in a wide range of sizes and colors. This versatile mineral is long-lasting and chemically inert, with excellent heat resistance and electric properties. It becomes a valuable metalloid for the manufacture of solar panels, semiconductors and electronics, aluminium and steel alloys, and the construction industry after being transformed into silicon by gaseous reduction at high temperatures. Silicon tetravalence allows for a wide range of chemical combinations, which is especially useful in silicone applications like cosmetics, gaskets, elastomers, and prosthetics.
