mineral

Milky quartz with iron-oxide staining

Quartz (SiO₂), likely ferruginous milky quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to translucent, vitreous luster, uneven fracture, and no obvious cleavage; Mohs hardness 7 and specific gravity about 2.65. The rusty orange-brown patches are likely iron-oxide staining, while the granular texture may indicate quartz vein material.

Identified August 8, 2026More mineral →

Explore Milky quartz with iron-oxide staining in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids crystallized quartz in fractures, commonly during cooling of igneous or metamorphic rocks; exact geological age cannot be determined from the image. Quartz veins occur in many mountain belts and continental crust environments.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive pieces are collected or used decoratively, though this specimen appears modestly valuable.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and has a hexagonal crystal structure, although massive specimens may show no visible crystals. Iron oxidation produces the characteristic reddish-brown coloration.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy appearance, hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; it should scratch ordinary glass. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins, granites, and metamorphic terrains.