mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

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

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to creamy
Luster: Vitreous to waxy when weathered

Identified July 6, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions or as a primary constituent of igneous and metamorphic rocks. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, shaped by fluvial erosion over many years.

Uses & applications

Used as a decorative garden stone, in landscaping, as an abrasive in sandblasting, and as a source of silica for glass manufacturing and electronics.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy white appearance from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its white color, hardness (it will scratch glass), and rounded, smooth surface common in riverbeds. It is found globally in almost all geological environments.