mineral
Quartz with Iron Oxide Inclusions
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite/Limonite
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, milky white to tan with reddish-brown surface iron staining, vitreous to dull luster, trigonal crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity approximately 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, milky white to tan with reddish-brown surface iron staining, vitreous to dull luster, trigonal crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity approximately 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal processes where silica-rich fluids crystallized in veins or cavities within country rock, later stained or coated with iron oxide (hematite or limonite) through secondary weathering.
Uses & applications
Commonly collected by hobbyists and rockhounds; higher grade specimens are used in lapidary work, cabochon cutting, or ornamental stone carving.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust. Iron oxide coatings give quartz specimens reddish, brownish, or yellowish tones, often leading them to be misidentified as jasper or agate.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass), waxy to vitreous luster, and milky quartz interior bordered by reddish-brown iron crusts. Commonly found in gravel beds, stream deposits, and pegmatite veins worldwide.
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