mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Inclusions

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite/Limonite

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white with reddish-brown staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (Hexagonal); Cleavage: Poor/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white with reddish-brown staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified June 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites as silica-rich fluids cool and crystallize. The red staining occurs when iron-bearing groundwater permeates cracks or surfaces of the quartz over geological time.

Uses & applications

Industrial use in glassmaking and electronics; as a decorative stone in landscaping; widely collected as a common mineral specimen; used in metaphysical circles.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its white color from microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during the crystal's growth.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its ability to scratch glass, its milky opacity, and the presence of rusty iron oxide staining on the surface. Commonly found in riverbeds and mountainous terrain globally.

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sedimentary

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Nephrite Jade

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Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

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Metamorphic Rock

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mineral