mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, opaque, milky; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: White, opaque, milky
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, opaque, milky; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites. The milky appearance is caused by microscopic inclusions of gas or liquid (fluid inclusions) trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, as an abrasive, in architectural stone, and as common landscaping or decorative garden rock. Higher purity quartz is used in electronics for its piezoelectric properties.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. It can sometimes contain small amounts of gold within its structure, leading to the term 'gold quartz' in mining regions.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its white color, inability to be scratched by a steel knife, and lacks cleavage. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and everywhere where quartz-rich veins erode.