mineral

Quartz with Iron Oxide Inclusions

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Milky white to light tan with yellow-brown iron oxide (limonite/hematite) staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: ~2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and various metamorphic and igneous rock environments where silica-rich fluids cool and crystallize over geological timescales.

Uses & applications

Used widely in lapidary, mineral collection specimens, glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric applications), and abrasives.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Iron oxide staining, often called 'iron-out' candidates by collectors, gives many quartz crystals a distinct golden or reddish skin.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified in the field by its scratch resistance against steel (harder than glass/steel), lack of cleavage, and characteristic glassy fracture. Found abundantly worldwide in gravel deposits, riverbeds, and mountainous regions.

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