mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Staining

Crystalline Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to tan/orange due to limonite/hematite staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to tan/orange due to limonite/hematite staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 15, 2026More mineral →

Explore Milky Quartz with Iron Staining in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to tan/orange due to limonite/hematite staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.

Formation & geological history

Formed via hydrothermal activity where silica-rich fluids cooled in veins or cavities within host rocks. The staining occurs through chemical weathering and groundwater oxidation of iron-bearing minerals over millennia.

Uses & applications

Commonly used as decorative garden stone, in landscaping, and as a source of industrial silica for glass and electronics if high purity.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is clear, but milky white quartz is caused by tiny fluid inclusions trapped during the crystal's growth.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and white-to-stained appearance. Very common in mountainous terrain and riverbeds worldwide.