mineral

Milky Quartz

Crystalline Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: White to yellowish-tan due to iron staining or inclusions. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Poor/Conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: White to yellowish-tan due to iron staining or inclusions
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified May 16, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites where silica-rich fluids cool. The white color is caused by tiny bubbles of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth. Widely distributed across all geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used in construction as gravel/aggregate, in the manufacture of glass and ceramics, as an abrasive, and sometimes as a minor gemstone or for crystal healing practices.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found in nature.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and white 'milky' opacity. It is found globally in riverbeds, mountains, and desert surfaces.