mineral

Orange Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Orange to honey-gold (likely due to iron inclusions); Luster: Vitreous/glassy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); SG: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Orange to honey-gold (likely due to iron inclusions)
Luster: Vitreous/glassy

Identified April 3, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Orange to honey-gold (likely due to iron inclusions); Luster: Vitreous/glassy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); SG: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions cooling in veins or cavities. It can also occur in pegmatites. The orange tint comes from hematite or goethite impurities trapped during growth.

Uses & applications

Used primarily for decorative lapidary work, jewelry (tumbled stones, beads), and in the metaphysical/collecting community as 'Sun Quartz' or 'Candle Quartz.'

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is clear; it takes only a few parts per million of iron to transform the crystal into these warm orange hues.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel pocket knife (Hardness 7) and its lack of cleavage planes. Found globally in mountainous regions with high volcanic or tectonic activity.