mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Staining

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white with reddish-brown oxidation; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white with reddish-brown oxidation
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified March 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites where silica-rich fluids cool. The iron staining occurs from secondary weathering and oxidation of iron-bearing minerals like pyrite or goethite.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as a landscaping stone. Low-grade specimens are primarily of interest to amateur geologists and decorative collectors.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Iron-stained quartz is sometimes referred to as 'Golden Healer' in metaphysical communities, though geologically it is simply oxidized surface contamination.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife (hardness) and the lack of cleavage planes. Found globally in almost all geological environments, particularly in igneous and metamorphic terrains.

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