metamorphic
Quartz Vein in Gneiss/Granite
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) in Feldspar-Quartz Gneiss host rock
Hardness 7 for quartz, 6 for host feldspar. Luster: vitreous to dull. Colors: white, cream, tan, and reddish-brown iron staining. Structure: massive milky quartz intrusion cutting through granitic/gneissic matrix.
- Luster
- vitreous to dull
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 for quartz, 6 for host feldspar. Luster: vitreous to dull. Colors: white, cream, tan, and reddish-brown iron staining. Structure: massive milky quartz intrusion cutting through granitic/gneissic matrix.
Formation & geological history
Formed via hydrothermal activity where silica-rich hot fluids filled fractures within existing igneous or metamorphic host rocks during regional metamorphism, crystallizing into quartz veins.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative garden stone, landscape rock, and aggregate. Quartz itself has uses in glassmaking and electronics.
Geological facts
Hydrothermal quartz veins like this are famous worldwide because they are often primary targets for gold exploration, as gold-bearing fluids frequently deposit along quartz vein boundaries.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by the distinct white/cream silica band cutting sharply through the darker, granitic host rock matrix. Extremely common in crystalline shield terrains.
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