mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to translucent with a glassy-to-waxy luster, hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, and uneven conchoidal fracture; crystals are trigonal, though this specimen appears massive and roughly shaped. Brown areas may be iron staining or attached host material.

Identified September 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids crystallize in fractures and cavities, or during late stages of igneous-rock formation; individual specimens may range from Precambrian to recent. The block may be naturally broken or human-shaped, but its exact origin cannot be confirmed from the image.

Uses & applications

Used for silica, glass, ceramics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive pieces are collected, though milky quartz has limited jewelry value compared with clear quartz.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is highly resistant to weathering. Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or defects scattering light.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness, lack of cleavage, glassy luster, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; it should scratch ordinary glass. Common worldwide in veins, pegmatites, and metamorphic rocks.