mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to creamy; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to creamy
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to creamy; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or cooling magma; often weathered into pebbles by fluvial or coastal erosion. Found in varied geological ages from Precambrian to recent sediment.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (semiconductors), abrasives, construction aggregate, and as tumbled stones for decorative use or landscaping.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its characteristic white color from microscopic inclusions of fluids or gases trapped during crystal growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz on Earth.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and white opaque appearance. Commonly found in riverbeds, beaches, and as veins in igneous or metamorphic rock bodies.