mineral
Iron-stained Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Iron Oxide inclusions
Mohs hardness of 7, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, white to yellowish-brown coloration due to iron oxide (limonite/hematite) weathering coatings, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 7, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, white to yellowish-brown coloration due to iron oxide (limonite/hematite) weathering coatings, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Forms through hydrothermal fluid precipitation in veins within various host rocks, or as primary quartz in igneous pegmatites and metamorphic rocks. Iron oxides coat or infiltrate fractures through secondary weathering.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative landscaping stone, in lapidary work, as raw mineral samples for educational collection, and industrially for glassmaking and silicon extraction when pure.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The rusty reddish-yellow staining is typically caused by iron oxides like limonite or goethite leaching from nearby soil and rocks.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its scratch resistance (scratches glass readily), absence of cleavage planes, uneven conchoidal fracture, and glassy texture beneath the surface iron coating. Extremely common worldwide in mountainous, riverbed, and desert environments.
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