mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to translucent with a glassy to greasy luster; Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and hexagonal crystal structure. The specimen appears massive and uncrystallized, with minor surface staining or inclusions.

Identified August 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or melts cool and crystallize in fractures and cavities; it occurs in rocks ranging from Precambrian to modern age. Exact locality and age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, engineered stone, abrasives, electronics, and construction aggregate; attractive pieces are sold as decorative or teaching specimens rather than high-value gemstones.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify it by hardness— it should scratch ordinary glass but not be scratched by a steel knife—plus the absence of cleavage and its irregular, shell-like fracture. Common worldwide, especially in veins, pegmatites, and quartz-rich metamorphic rocks.