mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified May 18, 2026More mineral →

Explore Milky Quartz in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal veins or within pegmatites and igneous rocks. The milky appearance is caused by tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, as an abrasive, in the production of silicon, and widely used in landscaping and as a collector's entry-level mineral.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz is one of the most common varieties, and its cloudiness is due to microscopic fluid inclusions dating back to the mineral's formation.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its lack of cleavage, and its characteristic waxy or glassy luster. Found globally in riverbeds, mountains, and beaches.