mineral
Milky Quartz
Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milk-white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Milk-white to translucent
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milk-white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites through the cooling of silica-rich fluids. Often found as large veins in metamorphic or igneous terrains. The white color is caused by tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.
Uses & applications
Used in glass making, as an abrasive, in the production of silicon chips, and as decorative stone in landscaping or as a collector's specimen.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz is the most common variety of quartz. Its white color is often compared to frozen milk.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its white color, inability to be scratched by a steel knife, and lack of cleavage. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and near gold deposits as 'gold quartz'.
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