mineral
Milky Quartz
Quartz (Silicon Dioxide - SiO2)
Hardness 7 on the Mohs scale, white to milky white color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal/hexagonal crystal system, shell-like (conchoidal) fracture, no true cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on the Mohs scale, white to milky white color, vitreous to greasy luster, trigonal/hexagonal crystal system, shell-like (conchoidal) fracture, no true cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms through hydrothermal processes, crystallization from cooling magmas (pegmatites), and in metamorphic environments. Fluid inclusions of liquid or gas trapped during crystal growth cause the milky white appearance.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, abrasives, ceramics, electronics (as piezoelectric material), and as decorative stones, beads, and entry-level mineral specimens for collectors.
Geological facts
Milky Quartz is one of the most common mineral varieties found on Earth. Its cloudy white opacity is created by millions of microscopic bubbles of gas or liquid trapped inside the quartz matrix during its formation.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass readily and cannot be scratched by a steel knife), lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and milky white color. Found abundantly worldwide in riverbeds, mountains, and veins within rocks.
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