mineral

Milky quartz (quartz-rich fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to translucent with a vitreous-to-waxy luster, hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, and conchoidal fracture; crystals are hexagonal, though this fragment is noncrystalline-looking. The specimen appears pale gray-white and may contain fractures or surface coating.

Identified August 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermal environments when silica-rich fluids or melts crystallize. Its geological age cannot be determined from the photograph and may range from recent mineral growth to billions of years.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and engineered stone; attractive pieces are collected or used decoratively rather than as jewelry-grade gemstones.

Geological facts

A steel knife should not scratch quartz, while quartz can scratch ordinary glass. The cloudy appearance usually results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or dispersed mineral impurities.

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide in veins, granite, pegmatites, quartzite, and sedimentary gravels; test hardness and look for conchoidal fracture and translucent edges. The image alone cannot exclude coated glass or another pale mineral.