mineral

Milky quartz (likely quartz-rich rock fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to translucent with a glassy to waxy luster, irregular fracture, and no visible cleavage; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, specific gravity about 2.65. The specimen appears rough, opaque-to-translucent, and possibly mixed with gray host material.

Identified September 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in fractures and cavities, or as grains in igneous and metamorphic rocks; quartz commonly formed across a wide range of geologic ages. Exact age and locality cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, engineered stone, abrasives, electronics, and construction aggregate; attractive transparent pieces may be cut as gemstones, though this rough specimen has little jewelry value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is the defining component of many veins and quartzite. Milky appearance results mainly from microscopic fluid inclusions and internal fractures.

Field identification & locations

Look for hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture; avoid testing valuable specimens. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins, granite pegmatites, and quartzite.