sedimentary
Quartz Veinated Sandstone or Siltstone
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) within a clastic sedimentary matrix
Hardness: 7 (quartz vein) / 3-6 (host rock). Color: White/off-white vein in a brownish-grey matrix. Luster: Vitreous (glassy) in the vein, dull/earthy in the host. Structure: Massive/Granular.
- Hardness
- 7 (quartz vein) / 3-6 (host rock)
- Color
- White/off-white vein in a brownish-grey matrix
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy) in the vein, dull/earthy in the host
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (quartz vein) / 3-6 (host rock). Color: White/off-white vein in a brownish-grey matrix. Luster: Vitreous (glassy) in the vein, dull/earthy in the host. Structure: Massive/Granular.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the lithification of sand or silt particles. The white band is a quartz vein formed later via hydrothermal activity, where mineral-rich hot water filled a fracture and crystallized as it cooled. Geological age varies by site, often paleozoic or mesozoic.
Uses & applications
Common garden or landscaping rock, geological educational specimen, or used as road aggregate and construction fill when crushed.
Geological facts
Quartz veins often indicate historical tectonic activity where the crust cracked and 'healed' with new mineral growth. In some regions, such veins can be indicators of nearby precious metal mineralization like gold.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by the distinct color contrast between the white vein and dark host rock. Scrub the surface; quartz will have a vitreous reflection and will scratch glass. Found globally in riverbeds, glacial tills, and mountainous outcrops.
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