mineral
Milky quartz (rough fragment)
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectPale gray-white, translucent to opaque, with a glassy-to-dull luster and irregular fracture; quartz has a hexagonal crystal structure and Mohs hardness 7. The image alone does not reveal cleavage or specific gravity reliably.
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Physical properties
Pale gray-white, translucent to opaque, with a glassy-to-dull luster and irregular fracture; quartz has a hexagonal crystal structure and Mohs hardness 7. The image alone does not reveal cleavage or specific gravity reliably.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins and cavities, or crystallizes from magma; quartz occurs in rocks of many geological ages.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as a source of silica for glass and industrial materials; attractive pieces are collected or used in lapidary work and jewelry.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and typically breaks with a curved, shell-like conchoidal fracture rather than splitting along cleavage planes.
Field identification & locations
Look for hardness sufficient to scratch glass, no cleavage, and a white streak; common worldwide in veins and many rock types. The specimen’s appearance is consistent with quartz but cannot be confirmed from the image alone.
