mineral

Milky Quartz Vein Rock

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to grey with translucent milky areas; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (massive form); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to grey with translucent milky areas
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified June 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes where silica-rich hot fluids circulate through crustal fractures, cooling to precipitate quartz. Can form across various geological ages from Precambrian to recent.

Uses & applications

Used as an abrasive, in glass making, electronics (semiconductors), and as a common landscaping or decorative stone. Sometimes host's precious metals like gold.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of fluids that were trapped during the crystal's growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and waxy/vitreous luster. Found globally in almost all geological environments, especially in hydrothermal veins.