mineral

Milk Quartz (or Milky Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to translucent creamy white; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal prisms common when not water-worn); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to translucent creamy white
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified March 29, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms from the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or gas-charged magmas. The 'milkiness' is caused by tiny inclusions of gas and/or liquid trapped during crystal growth. They are found across all geological eras in veins and pegmatites.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as decorative landscaping stones, aquarium gravel, as a source for silicon in semiconductor and solar industries, and in metaphysical gemstone collections.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. Historically, it was used by many indigenous cultures to create stone tools when flint was unavailable, despite its difficult fracturing properties.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its characteristic waxy or vitreous luster and its ability to scratch glass. It is commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and mountainous quartz veins globally. Collectors look for pieces with iron staining (golden streaks) for aesthetic interest.

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Arenite (SiO2 based)

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Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

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