mineral
Milky quartz
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectWhite to translucent, vitreous-to-dull luster, massive granular texture, no cleavage, Mohs hardness 7, specific gravity about 2.65. The specimen’s rough, irregular surface is consistent with massive quartz, though a photo cannot confirm it definitively.
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Physical properties
White to translucent, vitreous-to-dull luster, massive granular texture, no cleavage, Mohs hardness 7, specific gravity about 2.65. The specimen’s rough, irregular surface is consistent with massive quartz, though a photo cannot confirm it definitively.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins and fractures, or during cooling of silica-rich magma; quartz occurs in rocks of many ages and geological settings.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as a silica source for glass and industrial materials; attractive pieces are collected or used decoratively, though this rough specimen is not gem quality.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and has a hexagonal crystal structure, even when it occurs as a shapeless mass.
Field identification & locations
Look for its hardness (it scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and glassy fracture; common in veins, pegmatites, and many igneous and metamorphic rocks worldwide.
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Epidote
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Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
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