mineral

Milky quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; translucent white to gray, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and irregular conchoidal fracture. It has a trigonal crystal structure and lacks cleavage; the specimen appears rough and naturally fractured or chipped.

Identified September 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed in a hydrothermal vein or as an igneous pegmatite constituent when silica-rich fluids crystallized, commonly during Precambrian to Phanerozoic episodes. The image alone cannot establish a precise age or locality.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and engineered stone; attractive pieces are collected or used decoratively, though this fragment is not gem quality.

Geological facts

Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or both scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy appearance, lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; a steel file will not scratch it. Common worldwide in veins, granites, pegmatites, and metamorphic rocks.