mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to translucent waxy; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

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

Identified June 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or within igneous pegmatites. The milky appearance is caused by tiny fluid inclusions (gas or liquid) trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used as an abrasive, in glass making, as a source for silicon, in landscaping, and as a popular specimen for beginner mineral collectors.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. It can often be found in gold-bearing quartz veins, making it a common indicator for gold prospectors.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its lack of clear cleavage planes. It is ubiquitous in mountainous regions, riverbeds, and as veins in metamorphic and igneous rocks.