
mineral
Milky Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cloudy white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Cloudy white to translucent
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cloudy white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through the crystallization of silica from hydrothermal solutions or cooling magma. Milky Quartz gets its appearance from tiny fluid or gas inclusions trapped during crystal growth.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, as an abrasive, in electronics (piezoelectric properties), and frequently as a landscaping stone or decorative rock.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found in nature.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and white cloudy appearance. Common in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins globally.
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