mineral

Milky quartz (rough quartz specimen)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to pale gray with a vitreous-to-dull luster and massive, non-crystalline appearance. Quartz has a hexagonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and uneven to conchoidal fracture; the visible yellow-brown lines may be iron staining or fractures.

Identified September 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed as quartz-rich veins or cavities when silica-bearing fluids cooled and crystallized in bedrock. Quartz occurs in rocks of many ages and geological settings; the specimen’s age and exact source cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used in glass, abrasives, electronics, and as a decorative or collecting material; this rough piece is primarily suitable for display or lapidary work.

Geological facts

Quartz is among Earth’s most abundant minerals and is the reference mineral for Mohs hardness 7.

Field identification & locations

Look for hardness sufficient to scratch glass, lack of cleavage, and a white streak; common in veins, pegmatites, and many igneous and metamorphic rocks worldwide. The image does not show enough diagnostic features to confirm the identification definitively.