mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, opaque to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: White, opaque to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified April 7, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, opaque to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of magma or from hydrothermal veins. The white color is caused by minute fluid inclusions of gas and/or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used in the manufacturing of glass, ceramics, and abrasives. Also used as a decorative stone in landscaping and occasionally in jewelry as cabochons or beads.

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 (it will scratch glass), its white 'cloudy' appearance, and the lack of cleavage planes. Found globally in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments.