mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Oxide Weathering

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Goethite/Limonite coatings

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 on Mohs scale. White to off-white quartz matrix with yellow, orange, and brownish iron oxide staining. Vitreous to dull luster, hexagonal crystal habit (massive/vein occurrence), uneven to conchoidal fracture.

Identified July 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermally active environments as silica-rich fluid filled fractures in host rock. Iron oxides formed later through weathering and groundwater leaching near the surface.

Uses & applications

Used in mineral collections, landscape decoration, and historically crushed as source silica or examined as an indicator rock for precious metal veins like gold.

Geological facts

Vein quartz stained with iron (often called 'rusty quartz') is commonly sought by prospectors because hydrothermal quartz veins frequently host gold and silver mineralization.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), white milky body, and distinct yellowish-brown iron rust staining in cavities and fractures. Commonly found in mountainous and heavily weathered igneous/metamorphic terrains.