mineral
Milky Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Mohs hardness of 7, white to translucent color with a greasy to vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, no cleavage with conchoidal fracture, specific gravity ~2.65.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 7, white to translucent color with a greasy to vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, no cleavage with conchoidal fracture, specific gravity ~2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and igneous rocks through the crystallization of silica-rich fluids as they cool and precipitate.
Uses & applications
Used in quartz watches for piezoelectric properties, glass manufacturing, abrasives, silicon production, and as a popular mineral sample for collectors.
Geological facts
Milky quartz gets its cloudy white appearance from tiny gas or liquid bubbles trapped during the mineral's growth millions of years ago.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, white to semi-translucent cloudy appearance, and greasy fracture surfaces. Extensively found worldwide in gravel beds, mountain regions, and mining areas.
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