mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Opaque white to off-white with minor iron staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal System: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Poor/absent, exhibits conchoidal to irregular fracture. Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to off-white with minor iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydro-thermal veins and pegmatites during igneous crystallization and metamorphic processes. Tiny gas or liquid bubbles trapped during crystallization give it its characteristic cloudy, white appearance.

Uses & applications

Used widely in landscape architecture, construction aggregate, glassmaking, electronics (as a quartz source), lapidary work, and crystal collecting.

Geological facts

Milky Quartz is one of the most common rock-forming minerals on Earth's crust. The white opacity is caused by microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during the mineral's formation millions of years ago.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified in the field by its hardness (scratches glass easily), lack of cleavage, white to yellowish-stained color, and vitreous to greasy luster. Extremely common worldwide in granitic regions, riverbeds, and gravel pits.