mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to gray, translucent to opaque, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and no cleavage; Mohs hardness 7, specific gravity about 2.65, and hexagonal crystal structure. The specimen appears massive and naturally fractured, with possible iron-oxide staining.

Identified August 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids fill fractures and cavities, or crystallizes in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Quartz is geologically widespread and may form during many ages rather than one specific period.

Uses & applications

Common milky quartz has modest collector value and is used as a silica source in glass, ceramics, abrasives, and engineered stone; clear varieties are used as gemstones and in electronics.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric. Its cloudy appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or mineral impurities.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by hardness—quartz scratches ordinary glass but not vice versa—plus its lack of cleavage and irregular fracture; it commonly occurs in veins, granite, gneiss, and placer deposits worldwide. Exact identification is limited by the image alone.