mineral

Iron-stained quartz vein fragment

Quartz (SiO₂), likely with limonite/goethite iron oxides and minor sulfides

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 7 for quartz; pale gray to white with yellow-brown earthy coatings, vitreous to dull luster, granular crystalline texture, no obvious cleavage, and quartz-specific gravity near 2.65. The porous rusty coating is softer and may leave a yellow-brown streak.

Identified August 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids deposited quartz in a rock fracture, followed by weathering that oxidized iron-bearing minerals into limonite/goethite. The specimen’s exact age and locality cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Quartz vein material is used as silica aggregate, a source of industrial silica, and occasionally as a lapidary or teaching specimen; this rough, iron-stained piece has little jewelry value.

Geological facts

Iron oxides commonly produce yellow, orange, and brown colors in otherwise white quartz. The bright metallic-looking flecks may indicate weathered pyrite or another sulfide, but this cannot be confirmed visually.

Field identification & locations

Look for glassy quartz grains, hardness sufficient to scratch glass, and rusty iron-oxide staining; a streak test, acid test, and specific-gravity measurement can help. Quartz veins occur widely in hydrothermal, metamorphic, and mineralized terrains worldwide.