Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on earth and is found in many rock types including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. It is particularly common in continental crust rocks such as granites and rhyolites, and in sedimentary rocks such as sandstones and cherts.

Quartz can also be found in hydrothermal veins, where hot fluids pass through fractures in rocks, depositing minerals as they cool. This can result in the formation of large quartz veins that can be mined for their high-purity quartz content.

In addition to its occurrence in rocks, quartz can also be found in soils and sediments as small particles called silt. These particles can be transported by wind or water and can accumulate in large quantities in certain environments, such as sand dunes and riverbeds.