mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to stained yellowish-brown; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to stained yellowish-brown
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to stained yellowish-brown; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; 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 the Earth's crust. This specimen shows iron oxide staining common in surface-weathered quartz.

Uses & applications

Used in construction as an aggregate, in glassmaking, as an abrasive, and sometimes in landscaping or as a basic collector mineral.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its opaque white color from microscopic fluid inclusions trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its ability to scratch glass, its translucent white color, and its lack of cleavage planes. Found globally in almost all geological environments.