mineral
Milky Quartz with inclusions
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: cloudy white or milky, Luster: vitreous to greasy, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: cloudy white or milky, Luster: vitreous to greasy, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in hydrothermal veins or as a slow-cooling mineral in igneous pegmatites. The milky appearance is caused by tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.
Uses & applications
Used in glass making, ceramics, as an abrasive, and frequently in jewelry or as landscaping stones.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz specifically gets its color from microscopic fluid inclusions trapped since the moment the crystal formed.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), waxy to glass-like luster, and lack of cleavage. Common in mountain ranges and riverbeds globally.
