mineral
Milky Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to cloudy; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White to cloudy
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to cloudy; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal solutions in veins or during the cooling of igneous pegmatites. It is found in all geological ages where hydrothermal activity has occurred.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, abrasives, electronics (as a source of silicon), and as a gemstone or decorative garden stone.
Geological facts
The milky appearance is caused by tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth. It is one of the most common minerals on Earth's crust.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and white opaque color. It is ubiquitously found in mountain ranges, riverbeds, and as veins in metamorphic and igneous rocks.
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Mineral/Rock
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Green Apatite on Albite
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Epidote
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