mineral

Yellow or Honey Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Yellowish-tan to honey brown, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Identified July 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Yellowish-tan to honey brown, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Formation & geological history

Forms through sedimentary transport and water erosion which rounds the edges, or by hydrothermal processes where quartz precipitates from silicon-rich hot water.

Uses & applications

Used often as decorative river stones, landscaping, aggregate in construction, and occasionally in glass manufacturing or as a low-cost gemstone for tumbling.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The yellow color in this specimen is likely due to trace inclusions of iron oxides like goethite or limonite.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and beaches as water-worn pebbles.