mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

Identified July 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites through the cooling of silica-rich solutions in igneous and metamorphic environments. Common across all geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used as an abrasive, in the production of glass and ceramics, as a source of silicon for electronics, and in landscaping or decorative gravel.

Geological facts

The milky appearance is caused by tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found on Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and white cloudy appearance. It is ubiquitous in mountainous regions and riverbeds globally.