mineral
Milky quartz
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectWhite to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster with irregular fracture and no obvious cleavage; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, specific gravity about 2.65. The orange-brown areas are likely iron-oxide staining or surface dirt.
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Physical properties
White to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster with irregular fracture and no obvious cleavage; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, specific gravity about 2.65. The orange-brown areas are likely iron-oxide staining or surface dirt.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or late-stage igneous fluids crystallize in veins and cavities; quartz is geologically widespread from Precambrian rocks to modern deposits.
Uses & applications
Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive pieces are collected or used as inexpensive lapidary material.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is resistant to weathering, often accumulating in stream gravels and soils.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its glassy appearance, hardness—scratches ordinary glass—and lack of cleavage; it commonly occurs in quartz veins, granite pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, and sedimentary conglomerates worldwide.
