mineral

Quartz (Milky or White Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Opaque white to translucent. Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture. Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified March 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of magma or hydrothermal activity in veins. It is found in all types of geological environments and can date from several billion years ago to relatively recent formations.

Uses & applications

Used in the production of glass, ceramics, and abrasives. High-purity quartz is essential for electronic components and oscillators. It is also popular for ornamental carvings, landscaping, and as a semi-precious gemstone.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its white color from tiny bubbles of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's formation.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage (it breaks into curved shards), and its white 'waxy' appearance. Commonly found in mountain ranges, riverbeds, and as veins in metamorphic rocks.

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Mineral/Rock

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