mineral
Milky Quartz with Iron Inclusions
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white with orange-brown iron oxide staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Opaque white with orange-brown iron oxide staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white with orange-brown iron oxide staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or as a secondary mineral in igneous and metamorphic environments. The orange staining is caused by the oxidation of iron-rich minerals (like limonite) that have seeped into fractures.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, jewelry (as cabochons or tumbled stones), and as a common specimen for beginning rock collectors.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its cloudiness from tiny microscopic inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it can scratch glass), its lack of cleavage, and the characteristic rusty staining. Common in gravel pits, riverbeds, and mountain ranges worldwide.
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