mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Inclusions

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Opaque white to grey with reddish-brown iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 Mohs
Color: Opaque white to grey with reddish-brown iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified February 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites through the cooling of silica-rich fluids. This specimen shows oxidation typical of surface weathering, likely dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic depending on the local bedrock.

Uses & applications

Industrial use in glassmaking, abrasives, and electronics (as a source of silicon); also used as landscape stone, in jewelry as cabochons, and for metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is clear, but tiny fluid or gas inclusions create the 'milky' white appearance seen here.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and waxy luster. Widely found globally in mountainous and volcanic regions; look for white outcroppings in sedimentary or metamorphic layers.

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