mineral
Milky Quartz Pebble with Matrix
Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white with dark grey/brown matrix or inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when wet; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Milky white with dark grey/brown matrix or inclusions
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy when wet
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white with dark grey/brown matrix or inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when wet; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from hydrothermal veins or within pegmatites where silica-rich fluids cooled slowly. This specimen is water-worn, indicating it was likely shaped by river or glacial transport over thousands of years. It can date from almost any geological era but is commonly found in ancient metamorphic terranes.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as aggregate, in glassmaking (if high purity), as a decorative gemstone in tumbling, and in electronic oscillators due to piezoelectric properties.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Pure quartz is clear, but tiny inclusions of liquid, gas, or other minerals during formation give milky quartz its opaque white color.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass and steel) and lack of cleavage. It is ubiquitous in riverbeds, beaches, and mountain trails worldwide. Collectors look for pieces with interesting mineral inclusions or distinct rounding.
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