mineral

Milky Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: White to translucent. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture. Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified May 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: White to translucent. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture. Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Typically crystallizes from hydrothermal veins or as a late-stage mineral in granitic pegmatities. Found globally across many geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used as a gemstone (tumbled or carved), in glass making, as an abrasive, and in the electronics industry due to piezoelectric properties. Common in landscaping and as a collector's mineral.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from tiny microscopic inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and white cloudy appearance. Common in riverbeds and mountainous terrain. Look for its characteristic waxy luster on fractured surfaces.