mineral
Milky quartz
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectWhite to cream, opaque and massive with a glassy-to-dull luster; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. The specimen’s rough, granular appearance is consistent with quartz, though a photo cannot confirm it definitively.
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Physical properties
White to cream, opaque and massive with a glassy-to-dull luster; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. The specimen’s rough, granular appearance is consistent with quartz, though a photo cannot confirm it definitively.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins and fractures, or as quartz-rich material in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Quartz occurs in rocks of many geological ages.
Uses & applications
Used as a silica source in glassmaking, ceramics, and some industrial applications; attractive pieces may be polished or collected.
Geological facts
Quartz is among Earth’s most abundant minerals and can persist through extensive weathering because of its hardness and chemical durability.
Field identification & locations
Look for hardness sufficient to scratch glass, no cleavage, and irregular fracture; common in quartz veins and many rock types worldwide.
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Metamorphic
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
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Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
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Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
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Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
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