What do different colors of quartz have in common? What gives them different colors? O All quartz is a compound of sulfur and two oxygen atoms called sulfur dioxide. Sometimes other elements and compounds can be found mixed with the silicon dioxide. This is why quartz comes in many different colors. All quartz is a compound of silicon and two oxygen atoms called silicon dioxide. Sometimes other elements and compounds can be found mixed with the silicon dioxide. This is why quartz comes in many different colors. All quartz is a compound of silicon and two phosphorous atoms called silicon diphosphide. Sometimes colored sand can be found mixed with the silicon diphosphide. This is why quartz comes in many different colors. All quartz is a compound of silicon and two oxygen atoms called silicon dioxide. Sometimes colored sand can be found mixed with the silicon dioxide. This is why quartz comes in many different colors.​