sedimentary

Quartz-rich breccia or silicified rock

Microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), with iron-oxide staining and possible feldspar/calcite fragments

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

About 40 g, pale cream to orange-brown, opaque, irregularly rounded and granular, with dull to locally slightly vitreous luster. Likely hardness around 6–7 if quartz-rich; cleavage absent, fracture uneven; exact composition cannot be confirmed from an image.

Identified September 19, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Probably formed by cementation or silicification of broken rock fragments, with later iron-oxide weathering producing the orange color. Geological age is indeterminate; such material occurs in many hydrothermal and sedimentary settings.

Uses & applications

Primarily a collector specimen or lapidary rough; quartz-rich material may be polished, but this small piece has little industrial or jewelry value.

Geological facts

The visible clast-like texture suggests breccia rather than a single crystal or gemstone. The orange coloration commonly comes from hematite or limonite coatings.

Field identification & locations

Look for a glassy fracture and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; vinegar fizz would suggest calcite-rich cement instead. Common in weathered veins, silicified zones, and gravel deposits.