This page brings together 12 minerals that all start with the letter Q, running alphabetically from “Quartz” to “Quijarroite.” Some are common and easy to spot, while others are rare finds known mostly to collectors and scientists. Together they show up in everything from jewelry and electronics to glassmaking, cutting tools, and prized specimens in museum and private collections.
Minerals are naturally occurring solid substances with a specific chemical makeup and an orderly crystal structure. They form the building blocks of rocks and the ground beneath our feet, and people have used them for thousands of years. Many even carry colorful names, like Quetzalcoatlite, named after the Aztec feathered-serpent god Quetzalcoatl.
Below you’ll find the table with the Mineral and Description columns.
Mineral: This gives you the name of each mineral on the list, sorted alphabetically so you can quickly scan and find the exact one you’re looking for.
Description: This offers a short, plain-language summary of each mineral, telling you what it’s made of, where it’s found, and what makes it interesting or useful.
Minerals
Mineral
Quartz
Qingsongite
Quenstedtite
Quetzalcoatlite
Quenselite
Quintinite
Quadratite
Quadridavyne
Qitianlingite
Qandilite
Quadruphite
Quijarroite
Descriptions
Quartz
One of the most abundant minerals in Earth’s crust, made of silicon dioxide. It comes in many varieties like amethyst, citrine, and rose quartz, and is prized for jewelry, electronics, and glassmaking.
Qingsongite
A rare boron nitride mineral and the natural form of cubic boron nitride. It is extremely hard, second only to diamond, and was first discovered in Tibet.
Quenstedtite
A purple to violet hydrated iron sulfate mineral that forms in oxidized iron deposits. It is water-soluble and named after German geologist Friedrich August von Quenstedt.
Quetzalcoatlite
A rare turquoise-blue tellurium mineral containing zinc and copper. It was named after the Aztec feathered-serpent deity Quetzalcoatl because of its vivid color.
Quenselite
A black, lustrous lead manganese oxide mineral found mainly at the famous Långban deposit in Sweden. It often forms tabular or platy crystals.
Quintinite
A magnesium aluminum carbonate mineral in the hydrotalcite group, often appearing in yellow, orange, or brown hues. It forms hexagonal platy or pyramidal crystals.
Quadratite
A rare silver arsenic sulfide mineral that forms small dark crystals. It is found in hydrothermal ore deposits and is sought by collectors for its scarcity.
Quadridavyne
A rare member of the cancrinite group, a complex sodium calcium aluminosilicate with chloride and sulfate. It typically forms in volcanic and alkaline rocks.
Qitianlingite
A rare iron tungsten niobium tantalum oxide mineral named after the Qitianling granite in China where it was discovered.
Qandilite
A brown to black magnesium titanium oxide mineral of the spinel group. It is named after the Qandil Range in Iraq where it was first identified.
Quadruphite
A rare and complex sodium calcium titanium phosphate silicate mineral found in alkaline rocks of the Kola Peninsula in Russia.
Quijarroite
A rare copper mercury selenide mineral discovered in Bolivia. It forms tiny metallic grains and is named after the Quijarro Province.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.
