mineral

Milky quartz (rough quartz fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 7; white to translucent with a vitreous to waxy luster and commonly irregular fracture rather than cleavage. It has a trigonal crystal structure, though this fragment shows no obvious crystal faces; specific gravity is about 2.65.

Identified August 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins, cavities, and igneous or metamorphic rocks. Quartz is widespread from Precambrian to modern geological settings, so age cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and engineered stone; attractive milky pieces are sold as inexpensive decorative or metaphysical specimens. Typical value is about $1–$10 for a common hand specimen, higher for large, well-formed crystals.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins, granite pegmatites, and metamorphic rocks. A glass-scratching test, lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture support identification; the image alone cannot exclude white calcite or chalcedony.