mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 3, 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 the Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Forms in hydrothermal veins or as a late-stage mineral in igneous pegmatites. The milky appearance is caused by minute fluid inclusions of gas and/or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used in the glass and ceramic industries, as an abrasive, in decorative landscaping, and occasionally as a minor gemstone or for crystal healing practices.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz on Earth. The white color is often due to microscopic bubbles of water or carbon dioxide trapped inside the silica lattice.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and characteristic waxy-to-glassy luster. It is found globally in almost all geological environments, especially in mountain ranges and riverbeds.