mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to translucent with a vitreous-to-waxy luster, hardness 7 Mohs, conchoidal fracture, no cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65. The specimen appears massive and naturally fractured, with possible minor iron staining or surface weathering.

Identified September 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or igneous melts crystallize in veins and cavities; quartz is common from Precambrian rocks to the present. Exact age and locality cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, foundry sand, abrasives, electronics, and engineered stone; attractive pieces are sold as inexpensive mineral specimens. Milky quartz is generally not valuable as a gemstone.

Geological facts

Its cloudy appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or mineral impurities. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically resistant minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by hardness—quartz scratches ordinary glass and cannot be scratched by a steel knife—plus its lack of cleavage and curved fracture surfaces. Common worldwide in quartz veins, granites, pegmatites, and metamorphic rocks.