mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Cloudy white to pale cream. Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Cloudy white to pale cream
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified March 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal veins or within igneous pegmatites. The 'milky' appearance is caused by microscopic fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth. Found in geological formations ranging from Precambrian to recent.

Uses & applications

Used in glass making, as an abrasive, in the production of silicon chips, and in construction as an aggregate. In the metaphysical and collecting community, it is used for tumbled stones and decorative carvings. It is also an important ore for gold in vein deposits.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky Quartz specifically is the most common variety of quartz. Historically, it has been used by various cultures to make stone tools due to its hardness and sharp edges when fractured.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will easily scratch glass), its lack of cleavage, and its waxy/greasy luster on broken surfaces. It is found globally, particularly in mountainous regions and riverbeds. Collectors should look for 'bull quartz' veins in metamorphic rock outcrops.