mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Milky white to translucent off-white. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal System: Trigonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent off-white
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Milky white to translucent off-white. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal System: Trigonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermally altered rock environments. White opacity is caused by microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during crystal growth. This rounded specimen was shaped and smoothed by natural water erosion in a stream, river, or beach environment.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, quartz gravel for landscaping, and as a common specimen for rock tumbling and entry-level mineral collections.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from millions of microscopic bubbles of gas and liquid trapped as the mineral crystallized.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its harness (can scratch glass easily and cannot be scratched by a steel knife), smooth water-worn surface, lack of cleavage, and characteristic waxy or vitreous white appearance. Found worldwide in riverbeds, gravel deposits, and beaches.