mineral
Milky quartz (rough quartz)
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectTranslucent white to pale pink, vitreous luster, and irregular fracture; hardness 7 Mohs, trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, specific gravity about 2.65. The photograph does not allow confident distinction from calcite, which is softer and cleaves readily.
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Physical properties
Translucent white to pale pink, vitreous luster, and irregular fracture; hardness 7 Mohs, trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, specific gravity about 2.65. The photograph does not allow confident distinction from calcite, which is softer and cleaves readily.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins and cavities, or during cooling of silica-rich magma. Quartz occurs in rocks of many geological ages.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, electronics, construction aggregates, and ornamental objects; attractive pieces are collected or polished for decoration.
Geological facts
Quartz is among Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, producing an electrical charge under pressure.
Field identification & locations
Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins and granitic or metamorphic rocks. Check for hardness and cleavage: quartz scratches glass and lacks calcite’s prominent rhombohedral cleavage.
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