mineral

Milky Quartz Vein in Host Rock

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white opaque quartz with tan/brown host rock; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white opaque quartz with tan/brown host rock
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified May 9, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from hydrothermal solutions precipitating in fractures within host rocks at moderate to high temperatures. This specimen shows a vein of quartz that filled a void in a sedimentary or metamorphic matrix.

Uses & applications

Used in glass making, abrasive manufacturing, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), and as decorative landscaping stone or beginner collection specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its color from tiny fluid inclusions of gas and/or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass/steel), lack of cleavage, and white streak. Commonly found in mountainous regions or as pebbles in stream beds.