How to identify Strawberry Quartz

To correctly identify Strawberry Quartz (Quartz (SiO2) with inclusions of goethite or hematite), check each of these features in order. Many rocks and minerals look alike, so cross-reference multiple properties before deciding.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Color

   Overall color and any zoning or banding

   Pink to red, often with visible red, orange, or brown specks or needles of inclusions. The base quartz is typically colorless or milky.

2. 2

   Luster

   How the surface reflects light: metallic, vitreous, dull

   Vitreous (glassy) on crystal faces and fractured surfaces.

3. 3

   Texture

   Grain size and surface feel: coarse, fine, glassy

   Smooth to slightly granular depending on the size and distribution of inclusions. Can be massive or crystalline.

4. 4

   Crystal Form

   Shape of visible crystals or crystal faces

   Typically occurs as massive aggregates or well-formed hexagonal prismatic crystals, often terminated. The inclusions are dispersed within these forms.

5. 5

   Cleavage

   How it breaks: flat cleavage planes vs irregular fracture

   None. Quartz exhibits conchoidal fracture.

6. 6

   Geological Environment

   The rock formation and setting where it occurs

   Hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and other silica-rich igneous or metamorphic environments. The presence of iron-rich fluids during quartz crystallization is crucial for the formation of the inclusions.

Key Facts

Hardness

7 on the Mohs scale (due to the quartz matrix)

Specific Gravity

2.65 - 2.66 (typical for quartz, inclusions may slightly alter this)

Crystal System

Trigonal

Color

Pink to red with iron oxide inclusions

Luster

Vitreous

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

Fracture

Conchoidal

Cleavage

None

Composition

Silicon dioxide (SiO2) with inclusions of hematite (Fe2O3) or goethite (FeO(OH))

Physical characteristics

• Crystal Habit: Prismatic, massive, granular
• Cleavage Type: None
• Fracture Type: Conchoidal
• Tenacity: Brittle
• Luster Type: Vitreous

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