metamorphic

Iron-stained quartz-rich breccia

Quartz vein breccia with limonite/goethite staining; exact identification requires testing

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness roughly 6–7 Mohs where quartz-rich; irregular angular white-to-gray quartz fragments in a rusty yellow-brown iron-oxide matrix, with vitreous to earthy luster and no obvious cleavage. The texture is brecciated rather than crystalline throughout.

Identified September 11, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids filled and cemented fractures, followed by oxidation of iron-bearing minerals near the surface. Its age cannot be determined from the photograph and depends on the host geology.

Uses & applications

Usually a collector specimen or decorative stone; iron-rich quartz breccias may be lapidary material but are generally not economically valuable as ore.

Geological facts

The yellow-orange coating is commonly limonite/goethite, produced by weathering of pyrite or other iron minerals. A streak, hardness, acid, and specific-gravity test would improve identification.

Field identification & locations

Look for scratch resistance against glass, white quartz fragments, rusty earthy coatings, and angular clasts separated by veins. Common in hydrothermal vein districts and weathered sulfide zones worldwide.