mineral

White Quartz (Tumbled)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) when polished; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) when polished

Identified March 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust and can be found in rocks from virtually any geological age.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in jewelry as 'Snow Quartz', in home decor, as a meditation aid, and industrially in glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics for its piezoelectric properties.

Geological facts

Quartz is highly resistant to both chemical and physical weathering. White or 'Milky' quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of fluids or gases trapped during the crystal's growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Tumbled specimens like this are common in riverbeds or are produced mechanically. Found globally, especially in Brazil, USA, and Madagascar.