mineral
Quartz Vein / Quartzite Specimens
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: White, milky, clear, gray, with iron oxide staining (orange/brown). Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
Identified More mineral →
Explore Quartz Vein / Quartzite Specimens in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: White, milky, clear, gray, with iron oxide staining (orange/brown). Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal precipitation in veins within metamorphic or igneous rocks, or through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone (quartzite). Found in widespread geological environments globally.
Uses & applications
Used in construction aggregates, glass making, electronics (silicon source), abrasives, and landscape decor. Common rough specimens are favored by hobbyists and rockhound beginners.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. These specimens exhibit classic iron-staining along fractures, which occurs when iron-rich groundwater permeates tiny cracks in the stone.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its ability to easily scratch glass, lack of cleavage (breaks with smooth curved surfaces), glassy luster, and resistance to chemical weathering. Found along gravel beds, mountain trails, and pegmatites worldwide.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Sandstone with Mineral Veining or Crust
Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral
Gypsum (variety Selenite or Alabaster)
Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral