mineral

Quartz (Iron-Stained)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Creamy white with orange-red iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Creamy white with orange-red iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 28, 2026More mineral →

Explore Quartz (Iron-Stained) in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Commonly forms in hydrothermal veins or igneous environments; this specific specimen appears water-worn (alluvial), likely having been transported and smoothed by water over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glass manufacturing, electronics, and as a common semi-precious gemstone in jewelry or for metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The orange-red tints are caused by trace amounts of hematite or limonite (iron oxides) coating the surface or filling internal fractures.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage, and its waxy luster when tumbled. It is found in riverbeds and gravel pits worldwide.