mineral

Quartz (Milky or Rough Variety)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cloudy white to pale yellowish; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Cloudy white to pale yellowish
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified May 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cloudy white to pale yellowish; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in a wide variety of environments, primarily through the cooling of silica-rich magma or precipitation from hydrothermal veins. It is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary settings globally and can range in age from billions of years to very recent formations.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, as a flux in metallurgy, and as a semi-precious gemstone in jewelry or for decorative carvings.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the German word 'quarz' and it was historically believed by some cultures to be permanently frozen ice.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and waxy/vitreous luster on fresh surfaces. It is ubiquitous in riverbeds and mountainous terrain.

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