mineral

Milky quartz (likely quartz vein fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, nonmetallic, and commonly massive rather than visibly crystalline. Quartz has a hexagonal crystal structure and lacks cleavage, breaking with conchoidal fractures; the specimen appears iron-stained or lightly coated along cracks.

Identified August 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids cool in fractures, producing quartz veins, or crystallizes from igneous and metamorphic rocks. Quartz is found in rocks of nearly all geological ages, from Archean terrains to modern hydrothermal deposits.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive translucent pieces are collected but this rough fragment has limited jewelry value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, generating an electrical charge when mechanically stressed.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glassy appearance, conchoidal fracture, lack of cleavage, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; a steel file should not scratch it. Common worldwide, especially in granite, pegmatite, metamorphic rocks, and hydrothermal veins.