mineral

Milky quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically hardness 7 Mohs, vitreous to waxy luster, white to translucent color, and a hexagonal crystal structure; it has no cleavage and shows conchoidal fracture. The gray-brown surface likely carries weathering or host-rock residue.

Identified September 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids, igneous melts, or metamorphic fluids; this fragment may come from a quartz vein or pegmatite. Quartz formed throughout Earth’s geological history, commonly from Precambrian to recent settings.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive translucent pieces are collected or cut as ornamental material. This small rough fragment has little commercial value.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glassy appearance, lack of cleavage, conchoidal breakage, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; a steel knife will not scratch it. Common localities include quartz veins, pegmatites, granites, metamorphic rocks, and alluvial gravels worldwide.