mineral

Tumbled milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically hardness 7 Mohs, white to translucent, with a vitreous to waxy luster and hexagonal crystal structure; this specimen appears rounded and fractured from tumbling. It has no true cleavage, only conchoidal fracture, and a specific gravity near 2.65.

Identified August 14, 2026More mineral →

Explore Tumbled milky quartz in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids fill veins, cavities, or fractures and crystallize, commonly in igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermal settings. Quartz is widespread from Precambrian rocks to modern deposits; the specimen is likely polished or naturally water-worn.

Uses & applications

Used for glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, countertops, and ornamental stone; milky quartz is mainly collected or used decoratively rather than as a gemstone.

Geological facts

The cloudy appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or mineral impurities. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.

Field identification & locations

Common in quartz veins, granite, pegmatites, river gravels, and geodes worldwide, including Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and the Alps. Scratch testing with steel is inconclusive; quartz should resist a knife scratch, though testing can damage the specimen.