mineral

Milky quartz crystal fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically Mohs hardness 7, vitreous to greasy luster, white to gray translucent color, and no cleavage; it shows irregular fracture and a hexagonal crystal structure. The specimen appears as a rough, partly translucent, massive or broken quartz piece with iron-stained patches.

Identified August 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids, pegmatites, and igneous veins, commonly during late-stage cooling of granitic rocks. Its exact geological age and locality cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glass, ceramics, foundry sand, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive crystals are collected or used decoratively. This small rough piece has little jewelry value unless provenance or unusual inclusions are established.

Geological facts

Milky quartz becomes cloudy because microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or fine mineral impurities scatter light. It can resemble calcite, but quartz is substantially harder and does not react with dilute acid.

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide, including Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and pegmatite districts globally; identify it by hardness, glassy luster, lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. A steel file should not scratch it, though testing may damage the specimen.