mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to translucent, vitreous-to-dull luster, irregular fracture, and hardness 7 on the Mohs scale; it has a hexagonal crystal structure but this fragment is likely massive rather than visibly crystalline. Specific gravity is about 2.65 and cleavage is absent.

Identified August 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids fill fractures or crystallizes in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Quartz is geologically widespread from Precambrian rocks to modern veins and sediments.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, ceramics, engineered stone, abrasives, and electronics; attractive pieces are collected, though this small rough fragment has little jewelry value.

Geological facts

Milky color results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and durable minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its white translucency, glassy fracture, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch with a steel knife; it should scratch ordinary glass. Common in quartz veins, granite, metamorphic rocks, and stream gravels worldwide.