mineral

Milky Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Creamy white with yellow/brown iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Creamy white with yellow/brown iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from hydrothermal veins or as a primary constituent of cooling igneous magmas. This specific specimen has been water-worn into an alluvial pebble through erosion and transport in a river or coastal environment.

Uses & applications

Commonly used as decorative landscaping stone, in glass manufacturing, and as a source of silicon for electronics. High-grade specimens are used in jewelry and lapidary work.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from minute fluid inclusions of gas and liquid that were trapped during the crystal's growth millions of years ago. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its waxy or vitreous luster when wet, and the lack of visible grain. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and beaches worldwide.