mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal solutions in veins. It is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments globally across various geological eras.

Uses & applications

Used in glass making, abrasives, as a flux in smelting, in electronics (piezoelectric properties), and frequently as decorative landscaping stones or mineral specimens.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during the crystal's growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found on Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified in the field by its ability to scratch glass, lack of cleavage, and characteristic waxy or glassy luster. It is ubiquitous in mountain ranges and riverbeds worldwide.