mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically colorless to white, translucent, and glassy to greasy; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and hexagonal crystal structure. The specimen appears as a rough, massive quartz aggregate with possible iron-oxide staining or minor inclusions.

Identified August 8, 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 hydrothermal fluids or late-stage igneous fluids crystallize in fractures and cavities, commonly in veins and pegmatites. Quartz is geologically widespread and forms from Precambrian to present-day environments.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, ceramics, abrasives, engineered stone, and electronics; attractive pieces are collected or used decoratively. This rough specimen has modest commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, producing an electrical charge under pressure. Milky opacity results mainly from microscopic fluid inclusions and structural defects.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its hardness, lack of cleavage, glassy luster, and inability to scratch with a steel knife while scratching ordinary glass. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins, granites, and pegmatites.