mineral
Quartz (Yellow/Iron-stained Quartzite or Chalcedony)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale yellow, cream, tan with brownish iron oxide stains. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pale yellow, cream, tan with brownish iron oxide stains
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale yellow, cream, tan with brownish iron oxide stains. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms through hydrothermal processes, precipitation in sedimentary environments, or metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstones. Very stable and resistant to chemical weathering.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in lapidary work, jewelry, landscaping, industrial abrasives, and as glass-making silica source.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Yellow iron-stained quartz pebbles are frequently shaped by river transport over thousands of years.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its ability to scratch glass (Mohs 7), lack of cleavage, and translucent waxy to glassy luster. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and gravel deposits.
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