mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

Identified January 2, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to creamy; 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 precipitation from hydrothermal veins. The white color is caused by microscopic fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth. Can be found in almost any geological environment.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), abrasives, as a flux in metallurgy, and as common decorative stone or gravel in landscaping. High-quality specimens are used in jewelry and carvings.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz is the most common variety of quartz. It can often contain traces of gold when found in hydrothermal veins, making it a primary target for gold prospectors.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its milky white color, and the absence of cleavage planes. It is commonly found as rounded river pebbles or as jagged veins in granitic or metamorphic rock outcrops. It is nearly ubiquitous worldwide.