mineral

Tumbled milky quartz

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; translucent white to pale gray, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and no visible cleavage. It has a trigonal crystal structure, though tumbling has rounded and polished the specimen; faint internal fractures and inclusions are visible.

Identified August 11, 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, commonly forming in veins and pegmatites. Its geological age may range from recent to billions of years; this piece has been mechanically tumbled and polished.

Uses & applications

Used for carvings, ornaments, lapidary pieces, countertops, glass, ceramics, and electronics-grade silica. Common tumbled specimens generally have modest decorative value.

Geological facts

Milky appearance results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or structural defects scattering light. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and chemically durable minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glassy luster, rounded conchoidal fractures, lack of cleavage, and ability to scratch ordinary glass; it should not be confused with soft calcite. Common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and worldwide quartz veins.