mineral

Milky quartz (rough fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Usually Mohs hardness 7, vitreous to waxy luster, white to translucent appearance, and a hexagonal crystal structure; it has indistinct cleavage and conchoidal fracture. The pictured piece appears unpolished, with irregular fracture surfaces and slight translucency.

Identified September 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins, cavities, pegmatites, and igneous or metamorphic rocks. Quartz is extremely common and ranges from Precambrian to modern geological settings; this specimen’s exact age cannot be determined visually.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, ceramics, engineered stone, abrasives, electronics, and watches; attractive milky quartz is also sold as a low-cost collecting or decorative specimen.

Geological facts

Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its hardness, glassy luster, conchoidal fracture, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch with a steel knife while scratching ordinary glass. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites.