mineral

Tumbled quartz with iron-oxide inclusions

Quartz (SiO₂), with likely hematite/goethite staining and host-rock inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 7; translucent gray-white with rusty red-brown patches and a vitreous-to-waxy tumbled surface. Quartz is trigonal and has no cleavage, breaking with conchoidal fracture; the inclusions make the specimen look mottled.

Identified October 7, 2026More mineral →

Explore Tumbled quartz with iron-oxide inclusions in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz commonly forms in silica-rich veins and cavities as magma cools or from hydrothermal fluids; iron oxides can stain or fill fractures later. The specimen’s geological age and exact formation setting cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Primarily a decorative or beginner’s collecting specimen; quartz is also widely used in glassmaking, electronics, and jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals. Red-brown areas are consistent with iron oxides, but visual inspection alone cannot confirm their identity.

Field identification & locations

Look for its glassy appearance, lack of cleavage, and hardness sufficient to scratch glass; the rounded shape indicates tumbling or natural abrasion. Quartz occurs worldwide in veins, pegmatites, and many rock types.