mineral

Quartz with Iron Staining

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Clear to white with orange/yellow/brown iron staining; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Clear to white with orange/yellow/brown iron staining
Luster: Vitreous

Identified June 7, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes where silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins or cavities. The iron staining occurs when the specimen is exposed to groundwater containing iron oxides, which coat the crystal surfaces.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a collector specimen or for decorative lapidary work. Pure quartz is used in electronics and glass manufacturing.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Iron-stained quartz is often jokingly called 'Golden Healer' in metaphysical communities.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (will scratch glass), hexagonal crystal points, and the fact that the orange color is a surface coating rather than an internal pigment. Commonly found in mountainous regions and riverbeds worldwide.