mineral

Tumbled milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, massive rather than visibly crystalline, with no cleavage and uneven conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity is about 2.65.

Identified August 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, massive rather than visibly crystalline, with no cleavage and uneven conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity is about 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids fill cavities or fractures in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks; the cloudy appearance comes from microscopic fluid inclusions or impurities. Quartz is abundant from Precambrian to modern geological settings.

Uses & applications

Used as a decorative stone, lapidary material, and inexpensive carving or jewelry component; quartz also has major industrial uses in glass, ceramics, abrasives, and electronics.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is the most common opaque-to-translucent quartz variety. Its cloudiness distinguishes it from clearer rock crystal, though the specimen may also contain minor iron staining or other inclusions.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy appearance, lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; it should not fizz in dilute acid. Common worldwide, especially in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and quartz-rich rocks.