mineral

Milky quartz cluster

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White, translucent-to-opaque quartz with a glassy to sugary luster and poorly formed interlocking crystals; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity about 2.65. The rough, cauliflower-like texture may indicate quartz coating or replacement of a cavity surface.

Identified August 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids cooled in a cavity or fracture, commonly in igneous or metamorphic host rocks; the specimen’s exact age and locality cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive clusters are sold as inexpensive display minerals.

Geological facts

Milky color results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities that scatter light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness, lack of cleavage, white translucent appearance, and glassy fracture; it should scratch ordinary glass but not be scratched by a steel knife. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites.