mineral

Milky quartz (likely)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster with no visible cleavage and conchoidal fracture; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The yellow-brown areas may be iron-oxide staining or surface contamination.

Identified September 18, 2026More mineral →

Explore Milky quartz (likely) in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins, cavities, and pegmatites, commonly in igneous and metamorphic rocks; individual specimens may range from Precambrian to recent geological settings.

Uses & applications

Used as a durable aggregate, glass and silicon source, abrasives, and in decorative stones; attractive translucent pieces are used for carving and inexpensive jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric. Milky appearance results mainly from microscopic fluid inclusions and structural defects.

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide, including Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and many quartz-vein localities. Identify it by hardness—scratching glass but not being scratched by a steel knife—and its lack of cleavage; the pictured piece could also be white chalcedony or opal without testing.