mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Opaque white to creamy. Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: Poor/None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to creamy
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified March 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of magma or by hydrothermal activity in veins. The milky white color is caused by microscopic inclusions of liquid or gas trapped during crystal growth. They can be found in rocks from virtually any geological age.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, abrasives, and as a component in concrete and mortar. Higher quality specimens are used for carving, landscaping, or as garden stones. It is also used in the electronics industry for its piezoelectric properties if found in single-crystal form.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Milky quartz is often found in massive form rather than as distinct crystals. Historically, it was used by many ancient cultures to make tools and weapons due to its hardness and way it fractures.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its white color, inability to be scratched by a steel knife, and lacks of cleavage (breaks into irregular, curved shards). Found worldwide, especially in mountain ranges and stream beds.