mineral

Milky quartz (likely quartzite fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to cream, translucent, and vitreous to dull; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, trigonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The irregular pieces appear naturally broken or minimally shaped.

Identified August 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous or hydrothermal fluids and commonly recrystallizes in metamorphic rocks; specimens may be Precambrian to recent. The image alone cannot determine whether these pieces are quartz vein material or quartzite.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, engineered stone, abrasives, and electronics; attractive translucent pieces are collected or occasionally cut as cabochons.

Geological facts

Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is the defining component of quartzite.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy luster, lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; it should not be scratched by a steel knife. Common in quartz veins, gravel, and metamorphic terrains worldwide.