mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Opaque white to translucent. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified April 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Opaque white to translucent. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions cooling within veins and igneous intrusions. It gets its white color from tiny bubbles of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth. Can form in nearly any geological age.

Uses & applications

Used as a common abrasive, in glassmaking, and in the production of silicon metal. Often used as decorative landscaping stone or as a source of high-purity silica for electronic semiconductors.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz is the most common variety of quartz. Some milky quartz contains gold within its structure, leading to the term 'gold quartz'.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it can scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and white opaque appearance. Commonly found in mountainous regions, riverbeds, and as veins in metamorphic rocks.