mineral

Milky quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Pale cream to translucent white, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and irregular fracture; Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, and hexagonal crystal structure. The yellowish surface may reflect iron staining or weathering.

Identified September 6, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed in a hydrothermal quartz vein or pegmatite, where silica-rich fluids crystallized in fractures; its exact geological age cannot be determined from the photograph. Quartz veins occur in rocks of nearly all ages.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive pieces are collected or used decoratively. This small, irregular fragment has minimal commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is chemically resistant, allowing it to persist in sediments and weathered soils. Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities scattering light.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by hardness—quartz scratches ordinary glass—combined with its lack of cleavage and conchoidal or uneven fracture; avoid confusing it with calcite, which is softer and cleaves readily. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and quartz-rich rocks.