mineral
Orange Quartz (Carnelian / Orange Aventurine)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Orange to reddish-orange. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Orange to reddish-orange
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
Identified More mineral →
Explore Orange Quartz (Carnelian / Orange Aventurine) in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Orange to reddish-orange. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms primarily in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and sedimentary environments through the crystallization of silica-rich solutions carrying iron oxide impurities that give it an orange hue.
Uses & applications
Widely used for tumbled gemstones, lapidary art, jewelry, wire-wrapping, and ornamental collections.
Geological facts
Orange varieties of quartz obtain their warm coloration from microscopic inclusions of iron oxides such as hematite or goethite embedded within the silica matrix.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its color, hardness of 7 (scratches glass), and translucent to sub-translucent appearance. Common in gravel deposits, riverbeds, and quartz veins worldwide.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)
FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
mineral
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral
Sandstone with Mineral Veining or Crust
Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)
sedimentary