mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cloudy white to pale yellow; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Cloudy white to pale yellow
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cloudy white to pale yellow; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Formation & geological history

Forms during the final stages of magma cooling in igneous rocks or through hydrothermal activity in metamorphic environments. This specimen specifically shows common cloudiness caused by microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during the crystal's formation.

Uses & applications

Used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics, as an abrasive in sandpaper, and for various spiritual or decorative collecting purposes. Low-grade quartz is also used widely in construction as an aggregate.

Geological facts

Milky Quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. The white/cloudy color is due to millions of tiny bubbles of gas or liquid trapped during its cooling millions of years ago.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of cleavage. It is found globally in pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and as pebbles in riverbeds.