mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent off-white; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent off-white
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified June 8, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent off-white; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Forms through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in veins or as a primary constituent in igneous rocks like granite. This specimen appears water-worn, likely from a stream or beach environment.

Uses & applications

Used in glass making, as an abrasive, in electronics (piezoelectric properties), and widely as decorative stones or tumbled pocket stones.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of fluids or gas trapped during the crystal's formation billions of years ago. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found on Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and white grainy appearance. It is found globally in almost all geological environments.