mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to translucent with a vitreous-to-pearly luster; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and trigonal crystal structure. The specimen appears massive and granular, with minor surface weathering or attached matrix.

Identified August 19, 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 fluids crystallize in fractures, veins, and igneous or metamorphic rocks; individual pieces may range from ancient Precambrian material to geologically recent vein fragments. Exact age and locality cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used as a silica source for glass, ceramics, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive pieces are sold as inexpensive mineral specimens or used in lapidary work.

Geological facts

Its cloudy appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or dispersed minerals. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy white appearance, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture; distinguish from calcite, which is softer and cleaves readily. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins and granite-rich terrains.