mineral

Raw milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent, vitreous-to-greasy luster, hexagonal crystal structure, and no true cleavage (uneven to conchoidal fracture). The pieces appear massive and weakly iron-stained yellow-brown.

Identified August 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids fill fractures or crystallize in cavities, commonly in veins and pegmatites. Quartz is widespread from Precambrian rocks to modern mineral deposits; exact age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, engineered stone, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and ornamental specimens; translucent pieces may be cut or polished for jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second-most abundant mineral in Earth’s continental crust and is piezoelectric. Milky appearance results mainly from microscopic fluid inclusions and fractures.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy luster, lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; it should not scratch easily with a steel knife. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins, granite pegmatites, and metamorphic rocks.