mineral

Quartz with Iron Staining

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) inclusions

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent to opaque white or gray, with yellowish to orange-brown staining. Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal (often massive in this form). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified July 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich solutions in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, or as a secondary mineral in other rocks. The iron staining occurs when groundwater carrying dissolved iron percolates through fractures in the quartz, precipitating iron oxides over time.

Uses & applications

Massive quartz is used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, and abrasives. Iron-stained varieties have little commercial value but are often collected as decorative yard stones.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The iron staining (often limonite or hematite) gives it a 'rusty' appearance very common in surface deposits.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide in almost every geological environment.

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