mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to cream; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to cream
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to cream; 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 when silica-rich fluids cool. The milky appearance is caused by tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used in glass making, ceramics, abrasives, and as a decorative stone in jewelry, landscaping, and healing crystal collections.

Geological facts

Milky Quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. While it lacks the transparency of rock crystal, it is chemically identical and can be found almost anywhere in the Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), white color, and waxy luster. Commonly found in riverbeds as smooth pebbles or as large veins in granitic rock.