Rock Identifier
Milky quartz in a weathered host rock (Quartz (SiO₂), with an unidentified fine-grained matrix) — mineral
mineral

Milky quartz in a weathered host rock

Quartz (SiO₂), with an unidentified fine-grained matrix

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to translucent quartz with a glassy-to-waxy luster and irregular fracture; quartz is Mohs 7, trigonal, and has no cleavage. The gray-brown matrix cannot be identified confidently from the image.

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Physical properties

White to translucent quartz with a glassy-to-waxy luster and irregular fracture; quartz is Mohs 7, trigonal, and has no cleavage. The gray-brown matrix cannot be identified confidently from the image.

Formation & geological history

Quartz commonly forms when silica-rich fluids fill fractures or cavities, or during cooling of silica-rich magma; the specimen’s age and exact formation setting are unknown.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used in glass, ceramics, electronics, and as a decorative or collecting mineral; this small rough piece has little apparent commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is among Earth’s most abundant minerals and commonly occurs in veins and many rock types.

Field identification & locations

Look for hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, lack of cleavage, and a white streak. Similar quartz specimens occur worldwide; the attached matrix would need closer examination for a more specific identification.