mineral

Tumbled quartz with iron-oxide staining

Quartz (SiO₂), locally stained by goethite/limonite

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to translucent gray quartz with yellow-orange earthy staining; vitreous luster, massive texture, no obvious cleavage, Mohs hardness 7, and specific gravity about 2.65. The rounded shape indicates tumbling or water wear.

Identified August 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallized from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or pegmatitic veins; iron-bearing fluids later deposited goethite/limonite along fractures. The specimen’s precise geological age and locality cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used for ornamental stones, lapidary work, carvings, and mineral collecting; this small piece has little industrial or jewelry value unless unusually attractive or locality-specific.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is resistant to weathering, commonly surviving as rounded gravel. Yellow staining is typically iron oxyhydroxide rather than a separate yellow quartz variety.

Field identification & locations

Common in quartz veins, stream gravels, pegmatites, and weathered rock. Identify it by glassy surfaces, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and lack of cleavage; a steel knife should not scratch it.