Round 1 Match 11
It’s a clash of titans as two iconic minerals face off this round.
Quartz is the most prevalent mineral on the surface of the Earth, makes up 20% of the crust, and was the original inspiration for Dr. Eddie Dempsey to start Mineral Cup in 2017. When given room to grow, quartz forms hexagonal crystals, looking like a child’s drawing or clipart of a crystal. Trace contamination by other elements other than silica (SiO₂) lend quartz a rainbow of colours, including gemstone-varieties amethyst and rose quartz. Quartz is piezoelectric, generating electric voltage when compressed, which recent research suggests may result in earthquakes squeezing gold nuggets from quartz veins.
Mercury is an utterly unmistakeable mineral, brilliant silver liquid beads at normal surface conditions, and the only naturally-occurring metal to be liquid at room temperature. It gained its nickname quicksilver from its distinct appearance paired with its ability to flow over surfaces. At below freezing temperatures of -39°C or colder, mercury crystallizes into a mineraloid, yet holds an IMA classification as a mineral due to its historical significance. Mercury is toxic, writing a gruesome history of unintended consequences from its use as medical ointment, cosmetic, amalgam with other metals, electrical conductor, catalyst, florescent lights, thermometers, and more.
An array of colourful quartz crystals. Image credit: Kerstin Neuhaus
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