mineral

Milky Quartz (or Vein Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent grey
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified April 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Formed from hydrothermal solutions or cooling magma in veins within igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary host rocks. It can form in almost any geological age where silica-rich fluids were present.

Uses & applications

Used in glass manufacturing, as an abrasive, in electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), construction aggregate, and as landscaping stones or decorative items.

Geological facts

Quartz is the most abundant mineral on Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its cloudiness from tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during its quick cooling process.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass/steel), lack of cleavage, and translucent appearance. Frequently found in stream beds or as veins in mountain outcrops. Found globally.

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