mineral
Quartz with Iron Oxide Staining
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 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 More mineral →
Explore Quartz with Iron Oxide Staining 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, 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).
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.
