mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Mohs hardness of 7, white to off-white or milky color due to tiny gas or liquid inclusions, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of approximately 2.65.

Identified July 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and various igneous and metamorphic environments. Crystallizes from cooling silica-rich fluids deep within the Earth's crust over long geological periods.

Uses & applications

Widely used in landscaping as ornamental garden rocks, in construction as aggregate, in glassmaking, and in electronics for piezoelectric applications when purified. Large decorative boulders are popular garden accent pieces.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from millions of microscopic fluid bubbles trapped during the crystal's rapid growth phase. It is one of the most common and abundant minerals on Earth's continental crust.

Field identification & locations

Field identification features include its high hardness (scratches glass readily), white streak, greasy to vitreous luster, lack of cleavage, and resistance to chemical weathering. Extremely common worldwide in granitic terrains and stream beds.