mineral
Milky quartz fragment
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectWhite to translucent, vitreous-to-greasy luster, hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and trigonal crystal structure; the specimen appears rough and irregular.
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Physical properties
White to translucent, vitreous-to-greasy luster, hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and trigonal crystal structure; the specimen appears rough and irregular.
Formation & geological history
Likely formed in a hydrothermal quartz vein or as an igneous pegmatite constituent. Quartz is widespread in rocks of nearly all geological ages, from Precambrian terrains to modern deposits.
Uses & applications
Used for glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive transparent or well-crystallized pieces are collected, though this fragment has little gem value.
Geological facts
Milky color results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or dispersed defects that scatter light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically resistant minerals.
Field identification & locations
Common in granite, pegmatite, sandstone, and mineral veins worldwide, especially Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and the Alps. It can scratch ordinary glass and steel, distinguishing it from softer white calcite or gypsum.
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