metamorphic

Milky quartz vein rock

Quartz, SiO₂, with iron-oxide staining and likely feldspar/mica host material

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 7 Mohs; white to translucent-gray, vitreous to waxy luster, massive granular texture, and no cleavage. The rusty brown areas are probably limonite/goethite staining; specific gravity of quartz is about 2.65.

Identified September 6, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely quartz-rich vein material formed when silica-bearing hydrothermal fluids filled fractures in older host rock, commonly during metamorphism or magmatic activity. The precise geological age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive pieces are sold as lapidary or mineral specimens. This rough fragment has modest decorative and collecting value.

Geological facts

Quartz commonly forms interlocking grains or crystals and is highly resistant to weathering, so it often remains after softer minerals erode. Iron oxides can create yellow, orange, or brown dendritic and diffuse stains.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glassy translucent appearance, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and lack of cleavage; a steel nail should not scratch fresh quartz. Similar material occurs worldwide in quartz veins, especially in granitic and metamorphic terrains.