mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Staining

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to off-white with yellow/orange iron-oxide staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites from cooling silica-rich magma or hot geothermal fluids. Iron oxides later seeped into micro-fractures to create the orange-yellow banding.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, electronics (piezoelectric properties), and as decorative gravel or landscaping stone. Also popular as a basic collector mineral.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. The 'milky' appearance is caused by tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its ability to scratch glass and lack of cleavage. Look for quartz veins in granite or metamorphic outcrops. It is nearly ubiquitous in mountainous or volcanic terrain.

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