mineral

Tumbled milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to cream, translucent to opaque, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and no cleavage; hardness 7 Mohs, trigonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The rounded shape indicates natural abrasion or tumbling, while the uneven surface may include fractures or iron-oxide staining.

Identified August 25, 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

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, hydrothermal, and metamorphic fluids; milky appearance results mainly from microscopic fluid inclusions and fractures. Quartz formed in many geological ages and environments, so age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, ceramics, engineered stone, abrasives, electronics, and countertops; attractive pieces are sold as inexpensive decorative or lapidary specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, producing an electrical charge under pressure. This specimen could also be a rounded quartz-rich pebble rather than a deliberately tumbled stone.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy/waxy appearance, high hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; it should scratch ordinary glass. Common sources include pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, metamorphic rocks, and river gravels worldwide.