As quartz was not a part of minecraft until later versions, anywhere where chunks have spawned in 'prior' to quartz contains no quartz. After quartz was introduced and EMC updated, then new chunks spawning in contain quartz. This is why I go to the waste to go quartz mining!
I recommend going to the waste to mine quartz. That's where you should go really anyways. If you venture out far into the wastes as well then you'll find loads! Even better, the wastes are being reset in two days, so there will be even more for you to mine!
if you go to unloaded chunks (you can see where they start on the live map) in the wild, you can get quartz. Though it is Waaayyy easier just to go to wastelands to get quartz
This is why people made the Quartz Express a long time ago. It's because, when quartz was added, it could only be found 10k+ blocks out in the nether, and the Wastelands hadn't been added yet, so the only way to get quartz was to travel out and find it. http://empireminecraft.com/threads/quartz-express.23356/#post-439734
I just went to wastelands nether and got 18 stacks in about 1hr. Just make sure to bring tons of ender pearls and 8:00 fire resistance potions!
