mineral

Quartz (Milky Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white, cloudy, or colorless; Luster: vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: white, cloudy, or colorless
Luster: vitreous to greasy

Identified June 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white, cloudy, or colorless; 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. Often found in igneous and metamorphic environments. This specimen appears as a mass of microcrystalline quartz or a weathered vein section.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), construction material (as sand or aggregate), and for jewelry and decorative carving.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. 'Milky' quartz gets its white appearance from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and white cloudy appearance. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and desert surfaces globally.