mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

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

Identified June 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or cooling magma in igneous veins. It is found in all geological ages and environments, particularly in granite pegmatites and metamorphic rocks.

Uses & applications

Used as a source of silica for glassmaking, as an abrasive, in electronics for its piezoelectric properties, and as a decorative landscaping stone or gemstone for collectors.

Geological facts

Milky Quartz gets its white color from microscopic inclusions of fluids (liquid or gas) trapped within the crystal as it grew. It is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its white color, its inability to be scratched by a steel knife, and its lack of cleavage plane surfaces. It often appears as veins in darker host rocks.