mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified June 19, 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 the Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or as a primary constituent of granites and pegmatites. The milky appearance is caused by tiny inclusion of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth millions of years ago.

Uses & applications

Used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, and abrasives. In construction, it is used as crushed stone for landscaping. Lower grade specimens are used for decorative purposes or spiritual collecting.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. The white color is the result of microscopic fluid inclusions (water or gas) that scatter light away from the surface.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its white color, inability to be scratched by steel, and lack of cleavage. It is found globally in almost every geological environment, often as cobbles in riverbeds or as veins in bedrock.