mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milk-white to opaque; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milk-white to opaque
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified May 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milk-white to opaque; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. Milky quartz gets its characteristic white color from microscopic fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, as an abrasive in sandblasting, in the production of silicon chips for electronics, and as decorative landscape stone or gemstones.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. While often overlooked by collectors for rarer varieties, massive quartz veins often host minerals like gold.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its white color, ability to scratch glass, and lack of cleavage (it breaks in irregular, curved surfaces). It is found globally in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments.