Isihlabathi se-silica, eyaziwa nangokuthi isihlabathi se-silica noma i-quartz.Kuyizinhlayiya eziphikisayo ezine-quartz njengengxenye yamaminerali eyinhloko kanye nosayizi wezinhlayiyana ze-0.020mm-3.350mm, ezihlukaniswe zibe isihlabathi sokwenziwa kwe-silica nesihlabathi se-silica semvelo njengesihlabathi esigeziwe, isihlabathi sokukhuhla, nesihlabathi esikhethiwe (flotation) ngokusho izindlela ezehlukene zezimayini nokucubungula.Isihlabathi se-silica siyi-mineral silicate eqinile, engagugi, futhi ezinzile kumakhemikhali, ukwakheka kwayo okuyinhloko kwamaminerali yi-SiO2, umbala wesihlabathi se-silica unombala omhlophe omhlophe noma ongenambala okhanyayo, ukuqina kwe-7, ukuqina ngaphandle kokuqhekeka, ukuphuka okufana negobolondo, ukucwebezela kwamafutha, isihlobo. ukuminyana kuka-2.65, amakhemikhali ayo, izinto ezishisayo kanye nemishini zine-anisotropy esobala, ayincibiliki ku-asidi, inyibilika kancane kusixazululo se-KOH, indawo encibilikayo engu-1750 °C.Umbala umhlophe qhwa, uphuzi ngokukhanyayo, onsundu kanye nompunga, isihlabathi se-silica sinokumelana nomlilo okuphezulu.