mineral

Iron-stained quartz (likely quartz-rich vein rock)

Quartz, SiO₂, with iron-oxide/hydroxide staining (limonite/goethite)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically hardness 7 Mohs, vitreous to greasy luster, translucent gray-white to yellow-brown, and conchoidal fracture with no cleavage; the rusty yellow color is from iron oxides. The specimen appears massive and granular rather than well-crystallized.

Identified August 28, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed as hydrothermal quartz filling a fracture, later weathered and stained by oxidized iron-bearing fluids; its exact geological age cannot be determined from the photograph. Common in mineralized veins and weathered outcrops.

Uses & applications

Used as a silica source, aggregate, and occasionally as a decorative or lapidary material; iron-stained pieces are mainly collectors’ specimens. Jewelry value is generally low unless attractive translucent quartz or crystals are present.

Geological facts

Iron staining can produce yellow, orange, red, or brown coatings without substantially changing the quartz itself. A steel file should not scratch fresh quartz, while quartz can scratch ordinary glass.

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide, including hydrothermal vein districts and weathered granite or metamorphic terrains. Confirm with a glass-scratch test, streak test, and ideally hardness or acid testing; identification is provisional because the image shows no diagnostic crystal faces.