mineral

Milky quartz with iron-oxide staining

Quartz (SiO₂), likely massive quartz with hematite/goethite inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to gray, translucent in thin edges, with rusty orange-brown staining; vitreous to greasy luster and no cleavage, showing irregular conchoidal fracture. Crystals are trigonal, though this specimen is mostly massive and granular.

Identified September 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids fill fractures or crystallize in veins, with later oxidation producing iron staining. The exact geological age and locality cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and engineered stone; attractive pieces are sold as cabinet or teaching specimens. This example appears primarily of modest collecting interest.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is highly resistant to weathering, commonly surviving as sand or vein fragments.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glassy appearance, lack of cleavage, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; a steel nail should not scratch it. Common worldwide in quartz veins, granites, metamorphic rocks, and hydrothermal deposits.