🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Do all types of Quartz emit sparks when hit with steel?

[Joe234]

Will all kinds of Quartz emit sparks when they are hit with steel? What about quartz/quartzite that have rounded surfaces all over like the one shown in the picture? I learned that quartz do gives off sparks when hit by steel. But this one shown in picture do not sparks.

 

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[bc5391]

it is not the quartz making the sparks, it is the steel. the ferrous material is being removed just like grinding

 

[signal_line]

it is not the quartz making the sparks, it is the steel. the ferrous material is being removed just like grinding

You can hit quartz against something and see a spark inside. This is the piezo electric effect. But it won’t start a fire.

 

[blauer]

Will all kinds of Quartz emit sparks when they are hit with steel? What about quartz/quartzite that have rounded surfaces all over like the one shown in the picture? I learned that quartz do gives off sparks when hit by steel. But this one shown in picture do not sparks.

What is the estimated hardness of it?

 

[bc5391]

What is the estimated hardness of it?

Quartz= MOHS' SCALE OF 7, Iron has a hardness of 4.5

 

[blauer]

Quartz= MOHS' SCALE OF 7, Iron has a hardness of 4.5

What about your specimen? What will scratch it?

 

[bc5391]

What about your specimen? What will scratch it?

??

 

[Kray Gelder]

Will all kinds of Quartz emit sparks when they are hit with steel? What about quartz/quartzite that have rounded surfaces all over like the one shown in the picture? I learned that quartz do gives off sparks when hit by steel. But this one shown in picture do not sparks.

Striking two quartz pebbles together will also give a spark. No steel needed. Not for fire starting, more of a novelty. We called them spark rocks as kids. It's called triboluminescence.