mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to pale yellow/honey; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn); Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: White to pale yellow/honey
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn)

Identified March 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or within igneous pegmatites. This specific specimen’s rounded shape is the result of mechanical weathering and transport in a river or coastal environment, likely aged anywhere from thousands to millions of years depending on the deposit location.

Uses & applications

Commonly used as abrasive blasting material, in glass manufacturing, as garden landscaping stones, and as decorative river rock. High-purity quartz is also essential for electronics and solar panels.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its white, cloudy appearance from tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found on the Earth's surface.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of cleavage planes. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till. Collectors look for pieces with interesting translucency or 'honey' coloration caused by iron staining.