mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Creamy white to pale yellowish. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Creamy white to pale yellowish
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Creamy white to pale yellowish. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and various igneous and metamorphic rocks. Weathering and water action erode the parent rock, tumbling the quartz into smooth river or beach pebbles over time.

Uses & applications

Used in landscaping, aquarium decor, tumbled gemstone collections, and as a source of silicon/silica in manufacturing.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy white appearance from tiny fluid inclusions trapped during the crystal's formation billions or millions of years ago.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass readily), smooth water-worn texture, and opaque to semi-translucent milky white color. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and gravel deposits.