metamorphic
Quartz Vein in Matrix / Quartzite
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with host rock
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White, reddish-brown, tan, grey. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Structure: Massive/Crystalline. Cleavage: Indistinct.
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White, reddish-brown, tan, grey
- Color
- White, reddish-brown, tan, grey
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White, reddish-brown, tan, grey. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Structure: Massive/Crystalline. Cleavage: Indistinct.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal processes where silica-rich fluids fill fractures in host rock, or through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. Often found in Precambrian shields.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as construction aggregate, road base, and by rockhounds for lapidary rough or garden decoration.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The reddish hues in this specimen are likely due to iron oxide staining (hematite).
Field identification & locations
Look for the characteristic milky white quartz veins cutting through darker, grainier host rock. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and mountain outcrops.
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