mineral
Milky quartz / quartz-rich vein rock
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), likely massive quartz with minor iron-staining or feldspar
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; white to gray, translucent patches, vitreous-to-waxy luster, granular massive texture, no obvious cleavage, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity about 2.65. The rounded edges suggest natural weathering or light tumbling.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; white to gray, translucent patches, vitreous-to-waxy luster, granular massive texture, no obvious cleavage, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity about 2.65. The rounded edges suggest natural weathering or light tumbling.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids fill fractures and crystallize, commonly in veins within igneous or metamorphic rocks; age depends on its host geology and may range from Paleozoic to recent. Weathering produced the rounded surface.
Uses & applications
Used for aggregates, glass and ceramics, silica products, and decorative stone; attractive translucent pieces are sold as inexpensive mineral specimens or lapidary material.
Geological facts
Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant crustal minerals and is piezoelectric.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its glassy appearance, lack of cleavage, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and resistance to a steel blade. Common in quartz veins worldwide, including Brazil, the United States, Madagascar, and Europe.
