mineral

Milky quartz with iron-oxide staining

Quartz (SiO₂), likely with limonite/goethite inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to translucent gray quartz displaying a glassy to greasy luster, irregular fracture, and no obvious cleavage; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, specific gravity about 2.65. Yellow-brown areas are likely iron oxides, while dark patches may be mica or iron-rich inclusions.

Identified September 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Most likely a hydrothermal quartz vein or quartz-rich pegmatitic fragment, formed when silica-bearing fluids crystallized in fractures; its precise geological age cannot be determined from the photograph. Weathering produced the rusty staining.

Uses & applications

Used mainly as a common mineral specimen, lapidary material, and occasional decorative stone; low-grade quartz is also used industrially in glass, ceramics, and engineered silica products.

Geological facts

Milky quartz becomes cloudy when microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or mineral impurities scatter light. Iron-oxide coatings commonly create yellow, orange, and brown coloration.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by hardness sufficient to scratch glass, lack of cleavage, conchoidal-to-irregular fracture, and white translucency; verify with a streak or scratch test rather than appearance alone. Common in quartz veins worldwide, including Brazil, the United States, Madagascar, and India.