sedimentary
Quartz Vein in Sandstone
Quartz (SiO2) in Clastic Sedimentary Rock
Hardness (Quartz): 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Reddish-brown matrix with a white/translucent vein; Luster: Dull matrix with a vitreous vein; Texture: Granular sandstone surface.
- Color
- Reddish-brown matrix with a white/translucent vein
- Luster
- Dull matrix with a vitreous vein
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Physical properties
Hardness (Quartz): 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Reddish-brown matrix with a white/translucent vein; Luster: Dull matrix with a vitreous vein; Texture: Granular sandstone surface.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the deposition and lithification of sand particles (sandstone), followed by hydrothermal activity where silica-rich fluids filled a fracture, precipitating common quartz.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a decorative garden stone or as an educational geological specimen; quartz-rich sandstones are also used in construction and glassmaking.
Geological facts
The white line is a 'vein,' indicating that the host rock once cracked under tectonic stress, allowing mineral-rich water to flow through and deposit crystals. The reddish color of the host rock suggests the presence of iron oxide (hematite).
Field identification & locations
Look for a contrasting line of crystalline material running through a grainy, granular rock. Common in areas with past tectonic or volcanic activity. Often found as rounded cobbles in riverbeds or beaches.
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