mineral
Milky Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs
- Color
- White to translucent
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites through the cooling of silica-rich solutions in the Earth's crust. It is common across all geological ages.
Uses & applications
Used in glass making, abrasive manufacturing, electronics (piezoelectric properties), and as decorative landscaping stone or ornamental jewelry.
Geological facts
Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its white color, inability to be scratched by steel, and lack of obvious cleavage. Found globally in mountainous regions and riverbeds.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)
Metamorphic Rock
![Biotite Schist (Biotite-rich Schist [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2]) — metamorphic](https://media.rock.id/9ca564b5-bc87-402b-965a-69b21f9aa6bf-thumbnail.jpg)
Biotite Schist
Biotite-rich Schist [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2]
metamorphic