mineral

Quartz (Iron-stained)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent with orange/red iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent with orange/red iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified May 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. This specimen likely originated in a quartz vein where groundwater deposited iron oxides, staining the crystal surfaces or fractures.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), construction as an aggregate, and for lapidary work or metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth. Iron-stained quartz is often called 'Hematoid Quartz' or 'Golden Healer' in the mineral collecting community when the staining is deep or uniform.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass and steel), lack of cleavage, and characteristic glassy luster. Commonly found in mountainous regions, riverbeds, and as veins in granite or metamorphic rocks.