mineral

Quartz (Milky Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent white to milky white; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Translucent white to milky white
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified July 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. This specimen likely originates from the Precambrian basement complex common in the Cross River/Akwa Ibom region of Nigeria (near 4.9°N, 8.4°E), where metamorphic and igneous activities are prevalent.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, electronic oscillators (piezoelectric properties), and as a gemstone or decorative collector's item.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from tiny inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass and steel) and lack of cleavage (it breaks in curved, shell-like patterns). It is ubiquitous in the granite and metamorphic belts of Southeastern Nigeria.