mineral
Milky Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to translucent with orange/brown iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White to translucent with orange/brown iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to translucent with orange/brown iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites from cooling silica-rich fluids. This specific specimen has been water-worn and smoothed by erosion in a river or beach environment.
Uses & applications
Used in glass making, abrasives, construction aggregates, and electronics as a source of silicon. Also popular as a tumbled stone or garden decor.
Geological facts
Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of fluids or gases trapped during crystal growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found on Earth's crust.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its ability to scratch glass and steel, its white color, and its lack of cleavage. Commonly found in riverbeds, gravel pits, and mountain trails worldwide.
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