mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to off-white/cream; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (though water-worn here); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to off-white/cream
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified March 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal veins or within igneous pegmatites. This specific specimen has been chemically and mechanically weathered, likely rounded by river or glacial action over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used industrially for glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics (as a source of silicon). In polished form, it is used for costume jewelry, 'worry stones,' and aquarium decor.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy white appearance from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz on Earth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its lack of cleavage, and the cloudy white 'milk-like' translucency. It is ubiquitously found in riverbeds, beaches, and mountain soil globally.