mineral

Tumbled milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically Mohs hardness 7, white to translucent with a vitreous-to-waxy luster; its cloudy appearance comes from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or mineral impurities. Quartz has a hexagonal crystal structure and lacks cleavage, breaking conchoidally.

Identified August 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in veins, cavities, and igneous or metamorphic rocks; specimens may be Precambrian to recent. The rounded shape shown is human-tumbled and polished rather than naturally crystal-faced.

Uses & applications

Used for lapidary ornaments, carvings, beads, and inexpensive decor; quartz also has major industrial uses in glass, ceramics, electronics, and engineered stone.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is one of the most common quartz varieties and can occur with gold-bearing hydrothermal veins. It may fluoresce weakly under some ultraviolet wavelengths, depending on impurities.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy appearance, hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch with a steel knife; it should scratch ordinary glass. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins and granitic or metamorphic terrains.