mineral

Quartz with Iron Oxide Staining

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: white, clear, or cloudy, often stained reddish, orange, or yellow by iron oxides. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal (often massive or crystalline). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified September 19, 2026More mineral →

Explore Quartz with Iron Oxide Staining in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Often found in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and as a major constituent of granites and sandstones.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics, glassmaking, construction materials, and as a gemstone or ornamental stone. Specimens like this are often collected by hobbyists.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust. The reddish staining is typically caused by hematite or limonite (iron oxides) that infiltrated fractures or coated the surface.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its hardness (scratches glass), conchoidal fracture, and lack of cleavage. Common worldwide. Field collectors can look for it in almost any geological setting, especially in areas with known vein deposits.