mineral

Ferruginous Quartz (Iron-stained Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Iron Oxide inclusions (Fe2O3)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-brown to rusty orange; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Yellowish-brown to rusty orange
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy

Identified March 29, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or igneous pegmatites. The yellow/brown staining occurs when iron-rich water leaches into micro-fractures of the quartz crystal over thousands of years, typically in alluvial or sedimentary environments.

Uses & applications

Common specimen for entry-level mineral collecting, metaphysical use (often marketed as 'Golden Healer' in the New Age community), and industrial abrasive when crushed.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The yellow-brown color is not part of the crystal lattice itself, but rather a thin coating or internal staining of limonite or hematite.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage planes, and its characteristic rusty coating that doesn't wash off easily. Commonly found in stream beds and gravel pits worldwide.

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