mineral
Tumbled milky quartz
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, hexagonal crystal structure, and no true cleavage. The rounded shape indicates tumbling or polishing; internal cloudiness comes from microscopic inclusions or fractures.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; white to translucent, vitreous-to-waxy luster, hexagonal crystal structure, and no true cleavage. The rounded shape indicates tumbling or polishing; internal cloudiness comes from microscopic inclusions or fractures.
Formation & geological history
Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, hydrothermal, and metamorphic fluids; milky varieties commonly form in veins and pegmatites over a wide range of geological ages. This specimen has been human-shaped and polished.
Uses & applications
Used as an inexpensive decorative stone, lapidary material, carving stock, and mineral-collection specimen; generally not valuable enough for fine jewelry.
Geological facts
Quartz is among Earth’s most abundant minerals and is chemically resistant, making it common in sedimentary sands and many rocks. Milky quartz can resemble white chalcedony or opalite but is typically more internally crystalline.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its glassy appearance, hardness, rounded conchoidal surfaces, and inability to be scratched by a steel knife; it should scratch ordinary glass. Common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and worldwide quartz veins.
