mineral

Milky Quartz with Iron Staining

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white with reddish-brown iron oxide streaks; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white with reddish-brown iron oxide streaks
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white with reddish-brown iron oxide streaks; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids cooling in veins or as a major constituent of pegmatites. The reddish staining is caused by secondary iron oxide minerals (like hematite or goethite) leaching into cracks.

Uses & applications

Informal landscaping, glass manufacturing, electronics (due to piezoelectricity), and as a decorative specimen for beginner collectors.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify by its inability to be scratched by steel, its lack of cleavage planes, and its waxy/glassy appearance. It is ubiquitous in mountainous and volcanic regions worldwide.