mineral
Milky quartz
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent with rusty yellow-brown staining, vitreous luster, and a hexagonal crystal structure. It has no cleavage and breaks with conchoidal fracture; specific gravity is about 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent with rusty yellow-brown staining, vitreous luster, and a hexagonal crystal structure. It has no cleavage and breaks with conchoidal fracture; specific gravity is about 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Quartz commonly crystallizes from silica-rich fluids in veins and pegmatites, or fills fractures in surrounding rock. Quartz is widespread in rocks of many ages; this specimen’s exact age and setting cannot be determined from the image.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, electronics, abrasives, and decorative stone; attractive pieces are collected or used in jewelry.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, producing an electrical charge under pressure.
Field identification & locations
The cloudy white, glassy appearance and lack of cleavage are characteristic; iron-oxide staining likely accounts for the tan-orange areas. Confirm with a scratch test: quartz scratches ordinary glass.
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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
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Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
igneous
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
igneous
Unidentified pink-and-gray mineral or rock specimen
Undetermined; the image is too blurry for reliable identification
mineral