mineral

Milky Quartz (Quartz Vein)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale (scratches glass); Color: White, opaque to translucent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale (scratches glass)
Color: White, opaque to translucent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified March 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from hydrothermal solutions or the cooling of silica-rich magma into cracks and fissures in existing rock (host rock), creating thick veins. Common in metamorphic and igneous terrains dating back hundreds of millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used in the glass and ceramic industries, as a source of silicon for electronics, in construction as aggregate, and in landscaping. Pure specimens are used for gemstone carving and mineral collecting.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its white color from tiny bubbles of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's formation. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found on Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinct white color against darker host rock, its inability to be scratched by a steel knife, and its lack of cleavage (it breaks into jagged, curved shards). Found globally, often in mountain ranges and eroded riverbeds.