mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically hardness 7 Mohs, white to translucent, with a glassy-to-waxy luster and hexagonal crystal structure; it has no cleavage and uneven/conchoidal fracture. The specimen appears as a rough, pale translucent fragment, though its exact identity is uncertain from the image alone.

Identified September 16, 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 veins, cavities, and igneous or metamorphic rocks. Quartz occurs from ancient Precambrian rocks to modern hydrothermal deposits.

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

Milky color results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.

Field identification & locations

Common worldwide, including Brazil, the United States, Madagascar, and the Alps. Confirm with a glass-scratch test (quartz scratches ordinary glass), but avoid testing valuable specimens; the image could also show calcite or another pale mineral.