mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Inclusions

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cloudy white to yellowish-orange due to iron oxidation; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Cloudy white to yellowish-orange due to iron oxidation
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified May 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions cooling in veins or as a late-stage crystallization in igneous rocks. Found in geological environments ranging from Precambrian to Cenozoic.

Uses & applications

Used in the production of glass, ceramics, and abrasives. Low-grade specimens are used as garden stones or fill, while clearer pieces are used in lapidary work and metaphysical collections.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. 'Milky' quartz gets its opacity from tiny fluid inclusions trapped during the crystal's growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), waxy luster when tumbled, and lack of cleavage. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and gravel pits globally.

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Metamorphic Rock

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