mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Opaque white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 12, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and as a primary constituent of granites and quartzites. This specific specimen appears to be water-worn, smoothed by alluvial or coastal erosion.

Uses & applications

Used in industrial glassmaking, abrasives, construction aggregates, and widely collected as a decorative stone or for metaphysical purposes.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found on Earth.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and waxy luster when water-worn. Common in riverbeds, beaches, and mountain trails worldwide.