mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to gray, translucent, with a vitreous to sugary luster. It has a hexagonal crystal structure but commonly occurs as massive, granular material; cleavage is absent, and fracture is conchoidal.

Identified August 9, 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

Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids cool in veins, cavities, and fractures, or during metamorphism. The specimen likely formed in a quartz vein; its exact geological age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and construction aggregate; attractive pieces are collected or polished for ornamental use. It is generally inexpensive unless unusually clear or associated with distinctive minerals.

Geological facts

The cloudy appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or mineral impurities. Rust-colored specks are likely iron-oxide staining, while the sugary surface may represent fine crystalline quartz.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glassy translucence, lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; it should not fizz in dilute acid. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins and granitic or metamorphic terrains.