mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Opaque white to off-white with minor iron staining. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal System: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to off-white with minor iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 28, 2026More mineral →

Explore Milky Quartz in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal crystallization in igneous veins, pegmatites, and metamorphic environments, where fluid pockets containing microscopic water inclusions turn the quartz cloudy white.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, ceramics, electronics (as a source of silicon), decorative landscaping, and popular among amateur rock collectors.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its characteristic white, cloudy appearance from millions of tiny fluid bubbles trapped inside the crystal structure during its initial growth.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its hardness (scratches glass), waxy to glass-like lustre, opaque white color, and absence of cleavage. Abundant worldwide in riverbeds, gravel deposits, and pegmatites.