mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed from hydrothermal veins or cooling magma where gas bubbles and fluid inclusions create the white, milky appearance. This specific specimen has been water-worn and rounded by fluvial or coastal erosion.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, landscaping, as a source for silicon, and in home decor or as a worry stone.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. The white color is caused by minute fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel, its white coloring, and its smooth, rounded river-stone texture. It is ubiquitous in riverbeds and on beaches worldwide.