sedimentary

Quartz-veined Sandstone

Sedimentary rock with quartz vein (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 7 for the quartz vein and 6-7 for the host rock, color is brownish-red with a prominent white to off-white quartz band, luster is vitreous on the quartz vein and dull/earthy on the host, crystal structure is trigonal (quartz) and clastic (sandstone), specific gravity around 2.65.

Identified August 2, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the lithification of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments, later fractured and filled with hydrothermal fluids rich in silica that precipitated to form a quartz vein. Can range in geological age from Precambrian to recent.

Uses & applications

Used in general landscaping, decorative garden stones, aggregate for construction, and as collector specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz veins are formed when hydrothermal fluids move through cracks in existing rocks under high pressure and temperature, depositing dissolved minerals along the fracture planes.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified in the field by the striking contrast of a lighter quartz vein cutting across a darker sedimentary host rock. Found worldwide in stream beds, sedimentary basins, and mountainous regions.