igneous
Smoky quartz-bearing feldspar pegmatite
Quartz (SiO₂) with feldspar, likely a granitic pegmatite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectCoarse, translucent gray-brown and cream crystal material with a vitreous to slightly dull luster; quartz hardness 7, feldspar about 6–6.5, with no obvious cleavage in the quartz but blocky cleavage in feldspar. The specimen appears irregularly fractured and weathered.
Identified More igneous →
Explore Smoky quartz-bearing feldspar pegmatite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Coarse, translucent gray-brown and cream crystal material with a vitreous to slightly dull luster; quartz hardness 7, feldspar about 6–6.5, with no obvious cleavage in the quartz but blocky cleavage in feldspar. The specimen appears irregularly fractured and weathered.
Formation & geological history
Likely crystallized slowly from volatile-rich granitic magma, allowing large quartz and feldspar crystals to grow. Pegmatites are generally late Paleozoic to Mesozoic or younger in age, depending on the local intrusion.
Uses & applications
Common pegmatite is mainly a collector specimen; feldspar and quartz from larger deposits are used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, and engineered stone. This piece is not gem-grade based on its visible fractures and opacity.
Geological facts
The darker translucent portion may be smoky quartz, while the pale yellow-white material is probably feldspar or weathered quartz. Exact identification would benefit from a fresh broken surface and hardness testing.
Field identification & locations
In the Apuseni region near 46.4°N, 23.9°E, granitic and metamorphic rocks make quartz-rich veins and pegmatitic material plausible. Test whether clear areas scratch glass but not steel; feldspar commonly shows two cleavage directions and is less glass-scratching.
