mineral
Quartz Pebble (Milky Quartz)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Off-white to light greyish-blue milky hue with faint dark inclusions/veins. Luster: Vitreous to greasy on water-worn surfaces. Crystal System: Hexagonal (trigonal). Fracture: Conchoidal. Specific Gravity: ~2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy on water-worn surfaces
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Off-white to light greyish-blue milky hue with faint dark inclusions/veins. Luster: Vitreous to greasy on water-worn surfaces. Crystal System: Hexagonal (trigonal). Fracture: Conchoidal. Specific Gravity: ~2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins and igneous pegmatites. The rounded, smooth shape indicates transport and erosion by water in a stream, river, or coastal beach environment over long periods.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in landscaping, river rock gravel, silica production, and as educational specimens or pocket stones.
Geological facts
Milky quartz gets its cloudy white appearance from tiny gas or liquid bubbles trapped within the crystal structure as it grew millions of years ago.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its hardness (scratches glass and steel), lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and smooth river-worn texture. Highly abundant worldwide in gravel pits, riverbeds, and beaches.
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