Rock Identifier
Druzy quartz geode (Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), microcrystalline druzy coating) — mineral
mineral

Druzy quartz geode

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), microcrystalline druzy coating

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to cream, sugar-like sparkling crystals lining a cavity; vitreous luster, trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, Mohs hardness 7, and specific gravity about 2.65. The specimen appears natural but may be cut or polished externally.

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Physical properties

White to cream, sugar-like sparkling crystals lining a cavity; vitreous luster, trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, Mohs hardness 7, and specific gravity about 2.65. The specimen appears natural but may be cut or polished externally.

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich groundwater deposits quartz crystals on the walls of a gas cavity or vug in volcanic rock, commonly during late-stage hydrothermal alteration. The exact geological age cannot be determined from the photograph; such geodes range from Paleozoic to Cenozoic.

Uses & applications

Used as a decorative and lapidary specimen, in jewelry, bookends, and mineral collections; quartz is also important in glass, electronics, and industrial abrasives.

Geological facts

“Druzy” describes a dense coating of tiny crystals rather than a separate mineral. Sparkle increases when the surface is illuminated because many crystal faces reflect light.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its cavity lined with tightly packed, hard, glassy quartz crystals that scratch ordinary glass; calcite is softer and may effervesce in dilute acid. Common sources include Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Morocco, and the United States.