metamorphic
Quartz vein fragment
Milky quartz (SiO₂), with a tan, iron-stained host rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectVisible pale gray-white, glassy to dull quartz with a tan, granular host; quartz has Mohs hardness 7, hexagonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65. The host appears weathered and may be a fine-grained metamorphic rock.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Quartz vein fragment in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Visible pale gray-white, glassy to dull quartz with a tan, granular host; quartz has Mohs hardness 7, hexagonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65. The host appears weathered and may be a fine-grained metamorphic rock.
Formation & geological history
Likely formed when silica-rich fluids filled a fracture and crystallized as a quartz vein; the host rock’s age and precise formation environment cannot be determined from the image.
Uses & applications
Quartz is used in glass, electronics, abrasives, and ornamental stone; this small, unpolished fragment is mainly suitable for collecting.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and commonly occurs in veins cutting older rocks.
Field identification & locations
Look for hard, glassy patches that scratch ordinary glass and lack cleavage; quartz veins occur in many rock types worldwide. The photo does not establish a specific locality or host-rock identity.
More like this
