mineral

Quartz (Iron-Stained / Yellow Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale yellow to orange-brown due to iron oxide staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal System: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale yellow to orange-brown due to iron oxide staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide range of geological environments, including hydrothermal veins, igneous pegmatites, and metamorphic rocks. Iron oxides deposit into micro-fractures, giving it a yellow or rusty appearance.

Uses & applications

Used as a gemstone, decorative specimen, lapidary material, and historically in glassmaking and electronics.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Iron staining can occur naturally via groundwater carrying iron minerals into tiny surface cracks.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its glass-like vitreous/greasy luster, inability to be scratched by a steel blade, and lack of cleavage. Found worldwide in riverbeds, pegmatites, and gravel deposits.