mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent
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

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. The milky appearance is caused by tiny fluid or gas inclusions trapped during crystal growth. They can be found in a wide variety of geological environments and ages.

Uses & applications

Used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics, as an abrasive, in the production of silicon metal, and widely used as a decorative stone or for metaphysical purposes.

Geological facts

Milky Quartz is one of the most common varieties of crystalline quartz. Historically, it has been used for stone tools and as a source of high-purity silica. Some cultures believed it embodied the 'frozen breath' of the earth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and white opaque appearance. It is ubiquitous in riverbeds, mountains, and near igneous intrusions globally.