mineral

Quartz (Milky Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to cream with some iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy on fractured surfaces; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to cream with some iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy on fractured surfaces

Identified March 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in veins or crystallized from cooling magma. It can be found in a variety of geological ages and is highly resistant to weathering.

Uses & applications

Used in industry for glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics (as piezoelectric crystals). In jewelry and decoration, it is often used for beads, carvings, and as 'white stone' landscaping.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its 'milky' appearance is caused by tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it can easily scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and common association with iron-stained rinds. Commonly found in mountainous regions, riverbeds, and as quartz veins in metamorphic rocks.