mineral

Likely milky quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small, pale gray-white, translucent to opaque fragment with a vitreous-looking surface. Quartz has Mohs hardness 7, a hexagonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and uneven to conchoidal fracture; the photo does not show enough detail to confirm these tests.

Identified October 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz commonly crystallizes from silica-rich fluids in veins and igneous or metamorphic rocks; its age depends on the host deposit and cannot be inferred from this fragment. Quartz veins and quartz-bearing rocks are geologically plausible in Ethiopia, including the broad region near the reported coordinates.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used in glass, ceramics, electronics, and as a gemstone or collectible; this small unworked piece has little practical value.

Geological facts

Milky color usually results from tiny fluid or gas inclusions scattering light. A steel nail should not readily scratch quartz, while quartz can scratch glass.

Field identification & locations

The specimen is consistent with common vein quartz, but the blurred image cannot rule out another pale mineral. Check for glass-scratching hardness and absence of cleavage; precise identification may require a close-up or simple tests.