Rock Identifier
Orange Quartz with Epidote (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Calcium Aluminum Iron Silicate hydroxide (Ca2(Al2,Fe)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH))) — mineral
mineral

Orange Quartz with Epidote

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Calcium Aluminum Iron Silicate hydroxide (Ca2(Al2,Fe)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH))

Hardness: 7 (Quartz) to 6-7 (Epidote) on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent orange to honey-yellow (due to iron inclusions) with dark green/mossy inclusions. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Quartz), Monoclinic (Epidote). Cleavage: None (Quartz), Perfect in one direction (Epidote).

Hardness
7 (Quartz) to 6-7 (Epidote) on Mohs scale
Luster
Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Quartz) to 6-7 (Epidote) on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent orange to honey-yellow (due to iron inclusions) with dark green/mossy inclusions. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Quartz), Monoclinic (Epidote). Cleavage: None (Quartz), Perfect in one direction (Epidote).

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins and metamorphic rocks. The orange tint is often caused by micro-inclusions of iron oxides (hematite/goethite), while the green Epidote forms during low-grade metamorphism of calcium-rich rocks. Age can vary greatly depending on geographic location.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as lapidary material for cabochons, metaphysical uses, and decorative display specimens for mineral collectors.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Specimens featuring inclusions like Epidote are often referred to by collectors as 'included quartz' and are highly prized when the inclusions create moss-like or forest-like internal patterns.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), conchoidal fracture, and the contrast between the glassy orange matrix and the grainy or fibrous green inclusions. Commonly found in riverbeds, tailings of old mines, or metamorphic outcrops in regions like Brazil, Madagascar, and the western United States.

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