Tumbled milky quartz

Typically white to translucent with a vitreous-to-waxy luster; hardness 7 Mohs, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The smooth oval shape indicates human tumbling and polishing.

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous, hydrothermal, and metamorphic environments; milky color results from microscopic fluid inclusions or fractures. Quartz is abundant throughout Earth’s geological history, from Precambrian rocks to modern veins and sediments.

Used for ornamental stones, carvings, countertops, glass, electronics, abrasives, and low-cost cabochons or worry stones.

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and exhibits piezoelectricity. This specimen may also be sold as white quartz, snow quartz, or milky quartz.

Identify it by its glassy translucence, lack of cleavage, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and white cloudy appearance; avoid confusing it with calcite, which is softer and cleaves readily. Common localities include Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and worldwide quartz veins.