mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent with light pink hues; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent with light pink hues
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified June 30, 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

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or as a major constituent of pegmatites. This specimen likely originated from Precambrian bedrock and was transported by glacial activity common in the Minnesota/Upper Midwest region during the Wisconsin glaciations.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, as an abrasive, in the production of quartz countertops, as flux in metallurgy, and as an ornamental stone or garden rock.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of fluids (gas or liquid) trapped during crystal growth. It is one of the most common minerals on Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and white color. In the provided Minnesota coordinates, this is a very common find in glacial till and gravel pits. Unlike feldspar, it will have a glassy rather than pearly sheen and no flat cleavage faces.