mineral

Milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Likely massive, granular milky quartz with a white-to-cream color and vitreous to dull luster. Quartz has Mohs hardness 7, a trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and specific gravity around 2.65; the specimen’s texture and lighting limit certainty.

Identified October 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins and fractures, or in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Quartz is common across many geological ages; this photo does not establish a specific age or locality.

Uses & applications

Commonly used as a silica source for glass and ceramics, in construction aggregate, and as an inexpensive lapidary or decorative material.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and resists weathering, so it often persists in soils and sediments.

Field identification & locations

Look for hardness sufficient to scratch glass, lack of cleavage, and an irregular fracture; quartz commonly occurs in veins worldwide. The rough, opaque appearance is consistent with quartz but is not diagnostic from a photo alone.