mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Inclusions

Crystalline Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white with orange/yellow iron staining (limonite or goethite); Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 1, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites when silica-rich fluids cool and crystallize. The milky appearance is caused by microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during growth. The orange staining occurs due to later oxidation of iron-bearing minerals.

Uses & applications

Used as a source of silica for glassmaking, as an abrasive, in electronics (piezoelectric properties), and widely as a decorative stone or for metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its cloudiness from tiny bubbles of gas or liquid trapped as the crystal formed millions of years ago.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and resistance to weathering. It is found globally, particularly in mountainous regions and riverbeds. Look for its characteristic waxy luster on fractured surfaces.

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