mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent tan
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 6, 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: Milky white to translucent tan; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture.

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites during the late stages of magmatic cooling. Found across almost all geological ages due to its chemical stability.

Uses & applications

Primary source of silica for glass manufacturing, electronics (due to piezoelectric properties), construction aggregate, and as a collector's specimen.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its lack of cleavage, and its waxy/vitreous luster. Found globally in mountainous terrain and riverbeds.