mineral

Quartz (Milky Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent pale white; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: ~2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent pale white
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of geological environments, commonly in pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and metamorphic rocks as silica-rich fluids cool and crystallize.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics, optics, glassmaking, gemstones, ornamental carvings, and as a common mineral collection sample.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Its milky white appearance is caused by tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its hardness (scratches glass, cannot be scratched by a steel knife), lack of cleavage, vitreous luster, and translucent white color. Found globally in granitic terrains, riverbeds, and gravel deposits.