mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (SiO2)

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

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

Identified July 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. The milky appearance is caused by tiny inclusions of gas and/or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Uses & applications

Used in glass making, as an abrasive, in electronics for its piezoelectric properties, as a gemstone in jewelry, and as a common decorative landscape stone.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found in nature.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and white cloudy appearance. Commonly found in pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and as pebbles in riverbeds.