mineral

Tumbled milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Usually white to translucent with a vitreous to waxy luster; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and trigonal crystal structure. The rounded edges indicate tumbling or natural abrasion, while internal cloudiness comes from microscopic fluid inclusions or fractures.

Identified August 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous and hydrothermal fluids and is extremely durable, commonly surviving erosion as stream or beach pebbles. Quartz formed throughout geologic time, so age cannot be determined from appearance alone.

Uses & applications

Used in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and countertops; attractive pieces are used in lapidary crafts and inexpensive jewelry. This small specimen has modest collector value.

Geological facts

Milky quartz is an abundant variety rather than a separate mineral species. Its translucency distinguishes it from opaque white chalcedony and from man-made glass, which commonly shows bubbles and lacks quartz’s hardness.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glassy sheen, hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to be scratched by a steel knife; it should scratch ordinary glass. Common worldwide, especially in granitic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal regions.