mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

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

Identified March 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in veins or during the cooling of igneous magmas. This specimen appears to be a water-worn or weathered fragment found in surface soil or gravel beds.

Uses & applications

Used in the production of glass, ceramics, and abrasives. In construction, it is used as an aggregate. It is also common in landscaping and as a stone for beginner crystal collectors.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth millions of years ago. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass and its lack of cleavage planes. It is commonly found in riverbeds, mountain regions, and as veins within granite or metamorphic rocks like quartzite.