Isihlabathi se-quartz siyinto ebalulekile yezimboni zamaminerali. Kuyinto engeyona amakhemikhali eyingozi futhi inezinhlobonhlobo zezicelo, ezifana: ingilazi, izitsha zobumba, izinto eziphikisayo, ezokuthutha ngamanzi, ezokuthutha izitimela, ezokwakha, izimboni zamakhemikhali nezinye izimboni. Ngenxa yokuthi ayiyona ingozi, ayikho inkinga nganoma iyiphi indlela yokuthutha. Kodwa-ke, ukubonakala kwesihlabathi seglasi kuyizinhlayiya ezincane futhi ezingavamile. Ngemva kokubhakwa ekushiseni okuphezulu okungaba ngu-520-580, isihlabathi sengilazi sihlanganiswa nomsebenzi wengilazi ukuze kwakhiwe indawo engalingani ye-three-dimensional, esetshenziselwa ikakhulukazi ukwenza imikhiqizo yengilazi. Isihlabathi sengilazi sihlukaniswe isihlabathi sengilazi esinemibala nesihlabathi sengilazi esobala. Ukubonakala kwesihlabathi sengilazi esobala kufana noshukela omhlophe. Isihlabathi se-Glass ngokuyinhloko sibangelwa ukuhlobisa kwendawo yengilazi, njengezibuko, ama-vases, ama-lampshades nokunye. Isihlabathi sengilazi esinemibala, eyaziwa nangokuthi isihlabathi sengilazi enemibala, singasetshenziswa futhi njengomhlobiso.
