mineral

Raw quartz (likely milky/smoky quartz)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; translucent gray, cream, and brownish tones with a vitreous luster. It has a hexagonal crystal structure and lacks cleavage, breaking with conchoidal fracture; the rough surfaces appear granular and uneven.

Identified August 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or cooling igneous melts deposit quartz in veins, cavities, and fractures. Its precise geological age and locality cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in glass, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, and engineered stone; attractive crystals are collected or occasionally used in jewelry. This irregular specimen has modest commercial value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is highly resistant to weathering. The cloudy appearance commonly results from fluid inclusions, microscopic fractures, or embedded mineral impurities.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glassy luster, translucent appearance, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and absence of cleavage; a steel blade should not scratch it easily. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins and granitic regions.