mineral

Milky quartz (likely tumbled quartz fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; translucent gray-white color, vitreous to waxy luster, massive microcrystalline structure, and no true cleavage; conchoidal fracture is typical. The cloudy appearance comes from microscopic fluid inclusions or defects.

Identified August 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins, cavities, and igneous or metamorphic rocks; quartz is commonly Precambrian to modern. This specimen appears naturally worn or possibly polished, with irregular fractures and rounded edges.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive milky quartz is sold as an inexpensive lapidary or display specimen.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is chemically resistant to weathering. It can resemble calcite, but quartz is much harder and does not effervesce in dilute acid.

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide, including Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and mountainous vein systems. Field tests: it scratches ordinary glass, does not scratch easily with a steel blade, and shows no bubbling in acid.