mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically translucent white to gray with a vitreous luster; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. The specimen appears massive and irregular rather than distinctly crystallized, with minor surface iron staining or inclusions.

Identified August 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids fill fractures and cavities in igneous, metamorphic, or hydrothermal environments. Quartz is common from Precambrian to Recent rocks, and this hand specimen cannot be assigned a specific age.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive pieces are sold as inexpensive mineral specimens. It is generally not gem quality unless exceptionally clear or unusually included.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is chemically resistant to weathering. Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or dispersed mineral impurities.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy luster, lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and ability to scratch ordinary steel or glass. Common worldwide, especially in granite pegmatites, quartz veins, and hydrothermal deposits.