[lucasorun (OP)]

33683124_10215389403744906_7085537702900137984_n.jpg (292.54 kB . 2730x3640 - viewed 5350 times)
33683124_10215389403744906_7085537702900137984_n.jpg (292.54 kB . 2730x3640 - viewed 5350 times)
33683124_10215389403744906_7085537702900137984_n.jpg (292.54 kB . 2730x3640 - viewed 5350 times)I found this rock on a walk on the mountain by my house and was wondering what it actually was. I think it's quartz as it seems to be quite hard and I couldn't dent it or mark it with my pocket knife but I'm not sure what the inclusions in it are? Maybe hematite and mica? Haven't done any geology in a long time so would appreciate some help!

[Bill S]

Hi Lucasorun, welcome.

It's also a long time since I did any geology, and only as a hobby, so there are going to be others who can probably be of more help.

If your knife has a good quality blade and won't scratch it, you are probably right about the quartz.

Do you have reason to think the pink bits are inclusions of a different mineral?

If not, they could be rose quartz.  However, in my (limited) experience, specimens containing clear and rose quarts often do not show such well defined boundaries.
 

[lucasorun (OP)]

Hey Bill! My knife is quite good so I'm pretty confident that the rock is quite hard, even managed to scrape glass with it so that confirms quartz from what I know of hardness scales?

As far as the different colored parts of the stone it just never occurred to me that it could just be a different kind of quartz since it was so distinct and kind of banded. I'll link a better angle of the rock and show you what I mean. It looks like orange stripes with some metallic shine to them. And to most left one is actually silver? That's what really made me think it wasn't actually quartz
33751453_10215389404704930_5865540147843432448_n.jpg (325.63 kB . 2730x3640 - viewed 4857 times)

[Bill S]

That looks quite different.  The next thing to do is a hardness test on the pinkish bits, and perhaps examine the margins with the point of your knife.

Where are your mountains?  From your local time I assume you are on the Eastern side of the Atlantic. 

[lucasorun (OP)]

Yes I'm in Ireland, and i got the sample in the Blackstairs mountain range here in the southeast of the island. Anything you think I should look out for? This type of rock is quite common on the mountain too so I guess it must be something quite abundant!

[chris]

Can @Bass offer a diagnosis?

[Bill S]

Anything you think I should look out for?

My dabbling in geology dates back to the 70s.  My main interest was in my native Cornwall, but, unfortunately, by that time I had moved to Essex, so fieldwork was very restricted.

From memory, I think you have some very old exposures in your area.  Cambrian/pre-Camb?
Afraid I couldn't suggest anything to look for, but there should be helpful information on line.

Also, as Chris suggests, Bass might be a good source of info.

[Bass]

definitely quartz. The bits of green on the surface are probably organic material. The brown is oxidation of wall rock or some sort of inclusion- could have been some sort of mica??

[kkwu1992]

Gotta say rose quartz is one of my favorite stones. I have it in a pyramid that I love to meditate with. I bought it from spam.con. There are many beautiful pyramids and jewelry made from rose quartz or other crystal.