mineral

Tumbled milky quartz with iron-oxide inclusions

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), with probable limonite/goethite inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to gray, translucent, and vitreous to greasy luster, with brown-yellow staining and dark inclusions. Quartz is trigonal and lacks cleavage, showing irregular conchoidal fracture; the surface appears naturally or mechanically rounded.

Identified September 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallized from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or evolved igneous veins, commonly during Precambrian to younger geological events; iron oxides formed later through weathering or alteration. Exact locality and age cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Used as a decorative, lapidary, and collector specimen; quartz is also important in glass, ceramics, electronics, and engineered stone. This small tumbled piece generally has modest commercial value.

Geological facts

The cloudy appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or fine mineral impurities rather than a separate crystal structure. Brown coloration is likely hydrated iron oxide, while dark patches may be mica, chlorite, or iron/manganese minerals.

Field identification & locations

Test hardness against glass: genuine quartz should scratch it, though this can damage the specimen. Common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, India, the United States, and hydrothermal vein deposits worldwide.