mineral

Milky Quartz (Carved Star Beads)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent white to milky white. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (though carved here). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Translucent white to milky white
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 28, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and metamorphic rock environments across many geological periods. The milky appearance is caused by tiny fluid inclusions trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Carved and drilled into star-shaped beads used for jewelry making, crafts, and decorative items. Quartz is also widely used in optics, electronics, and abrasives.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Fluid inclusions in milky quartz contain microscopic bubbles of liquid and gas that were present when the crystal formed millions of years ago.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its hardness (scratches glass, cannot be scratched by steel), milky translucent appearance, and lack of cleavage. Commonly found worldwide in Brazil, Madagascar, the USA, and India.