mineral

Likely milky quartz

Quartz, SiO₂

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque to translucent white with a faint peach tint and irregular fracture; quartz has Mohs hardness 7, vitreous luster, a hexagonal crystal structure, and no cleavage. The rounded shape may result from natural abrasion or handling.

Identified September 30, 2026More mineral →

Explore Likely milky quartz in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in many settings, including silica-rich igneous rocks and hydrothermal veins; it spans a wide range of geological ages. The image alone cannot establish its age or whether the tint is natural.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, electronics, and industrial abrasives; attractive pieces are kept as inexpensive collector specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz breaks with a curved, shell-like fracture rather than splitting along flat cleavage planes.

Field identification & locations

The pale, massive appearance is consistent with milky quartz, but a photo cannot rule out calcite or another pale stone. A glass scratch test can help: quartz should scratch ordinary glass; confirmatory identification may require hardness and acid testing. Quartz is plausible in the volcanic and mineralized terrain of central Mexico.