Mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to creamy tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to creamy tan
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified March 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to creamy tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. Milky quartz specifically gets its appearance from thousands of tiny fluid or gas inclusions trapped during crystal growth. They can be found in rocks from almost any geological age.

Uses & applications

Used in the glass and ceramics industry, as a flux in metallurgy, and as a semi-precious gemstone. Low-grade specimens are often crushed for industrial gravel or decorative landscaping.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Ancient Greeks named it 'krustallos' meaning ice, believing it was ice so cold it would never melt.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its lack of cleavage, and its waxy/greasy luster when broken. It is found globally in riverbeds, mountains, and beaches.