mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Inclusions

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to semi-translucent with tan-orange iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 Mohs
Color: White to semi-translucent with tan-orange iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from hydrothermal solutions or cooling magma in veins and pegmatites. This specimen likely comes from a hydrothermal vein where iron-rich fluids coated or permeated the quartz during or after growth.

Uses & applications

Used widely in glass making, abrasive manufacturing, electronics (piezoelectric properties), and as decorative landscaping or garden stones.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it scratches glass easily), its lack of cleavage, and its characteristic waxy or glassy luster. Often found in riverbeds, mountains, and outcroppings worldwide.

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