mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Staining

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to translucent with yellowish-brown iron oxide staining; 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 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in veins or pegmatites. The milky appearance is caused by microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during crystal growth. Iron staining occurs due to later groundwater exposure.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, electronics (piezoelectric properties), and as decorative landscaping stone or collector specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's crust. Milky quartz specifically gets its opaque white color from bubbles of gas or liquid trapped during the crystallization process billions of years ago.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and white color. It is found globally in almost all geological environments, especially in hydrothermal veins.

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Schist

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Mineral

Epidote

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