mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified May 25, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Forms during the final stages of magmatic crystallization in pegmatites or in hydrothermal veins through the precipitation of silica from hot aqueous solutions. This specific specimen appears to be water-worn or tumbled.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, electronics (piezoelectric properties), as an abrasive, in construction as aggregate, and frequently in jewelry or as pocket stones for collectors.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of fluids or gas trapped during the crystal's growth. It is one of the most common mineral varieties on the Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and white 'waxy' appearance. Found globally in riverbeds, mountains, and desert pavements.