mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when water-worn; Crystal structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to waxy when water-worn

Identified July 7, 2026More mineral →

Explore Milky Quartz Pebble in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when water-worn; Crystal structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed primarily in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites. This specific specimen has been tumbled and rounded by water transport in a river or beach environment, a process that can take hundreds to thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, as an abrasive, in electronics (piezoelectric properties), and widely as decorative gravel or landscaping stone. Tumbled specimens are popular for beginner rock collections.

Geological facts

The milky white color is caused by tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found on Earth's surface.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its lack of cleavage, and its characteristic white, waxy appearance. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and beaches worldwide.