mineral
Iron-Stained Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Iron Oxide impurities
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and a white to clear base color with brown or orange iron oxide staining.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and a white to clear base color with brown or orange iron oxide staining.
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites where silica-rich fluids crystallized under pressure, often later exposed to groundwater containing iron.
Uses & applications
Used in mineral collections, decorative items, and occasionally lapidary work.
Geological facts
Iron staining is a very common natural weathering feature on quartz rocks, often referred to as 'limonite-stained quartz'.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass) and distinctive brownish rust-colored patches on a white matrix; found worldwide.
