mineral

Milky quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically colorless to translucent white, with a vitreous to slightly waxy luster and conchoidal fracture; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The specimen appears rough and naturally fractured, with faint cloudy inclusions.

Identified September 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or late-stage igneous fluids crystallize in veins and cavities, commonly in granite, pegmatite, and metamorphic rocks. Quartz is geologically widespread and occurs throughout Earth history, rather than having one specific age.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, engineered stone, and construction aggregate; attractive clear pieces may be cut as gemstones. This small rough fragment has little commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth’s continental crust. Milky opacity generally results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or dispersed impurities.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy appearance, lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; it is not scratched by a steel knife. Common worldwide, including Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and quartz veins in many mountain regions.