mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

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

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

Identified June 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich hydrothermal veins or within igneous pegmatites. The white color is caused by tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used in glass making, as an abrasive, in electronics for its piezoelectric properties, and widely used in landscaping and as a collector specimen.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky Quartz is specifically the most common variety of crystalline quartz found in nature.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and characteristic white cloudy appearance. Often found as veins in metamorphic rocks or as pebbles in riverbeds.