mineral

Milky Quartz

Crystalline Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

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

Identified July 6, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Primarily forms in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites through the cooling of silica-rich hot fluids. It can also form in various igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Milky quartz gets its cloudiness from tiny fluid or gas inclusions trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used in construction as a raw material for glass and ceramics, as an abrasive, in landscaping, and sometimes as a minor gemstone or for lapidary tumbling. High-purity quartz is used in electronics and solar panels.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. Historically, it has been used by various cultures for tools and decorative items.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it can scratch glass), its lack of cleavage, and its typical white, cloudy appearance. It is found globally in almost all geological environments. Collectors find it everywhere, from riverbeds to mountain ridges.