mineral

Quartz-bearing rock or quartz-rich mineral specimen

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂); exact host rock is uncertain from the image

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Pale brown to pink, granular and translucent with a vitreous luster; quartz hardness is Mohs 7, lacks cleavage, and has hexagonal crystal structure. Visible rounded pale grains may indicate quartz in a weathered, iron-stained host rather than pure quartz.

Identified August 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids, igneous melts, or sedimentary processes; individual quartz grains can be far older than the rock containing them. The displayed 1.5–4.3 billion-year age is a generic estimate, not determinable from this photograph.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, construction aggregate, and occasionally jewelry. Value is usually low unless crystals are unusually clear, well formed, or attractively colored.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and forms both left- and right-handed crystal varieties. Brown coloration commonly results from iron staining or inclusions.

Field identification & locations

Test for hardness: quartz scratches ordinary glass and is not scratched by a steel knife; it commonly shows conchoidal fracture and no cleavage. Common worldwide in granite, pegmatites, veins, sandstones, and metamorphic rocks.