mineral

Yellow Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to golden; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Pale yellow to golden
Luster: Vitreous

Identified July 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to golden; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and igneous rocks through the cooling of silica-rich fluids. This specimen appears tumbled and polished.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry, as decorative stones, in meditation/spiritual practices, and historically as a source of silica for glassmaking.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's crust. Yellow varieties can occur naturally due to iron inclusions or can be created by heat-treating smoky quartz or amethyst.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and waxy to vitreous luster. Commonly found in riverbeds and mountainous terrain worldwide.