mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz / Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Opaque white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified March 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal solutions cooling in veins or from the crystallization of magma in igneous environments like pegmatites. It is found in geological formations ranging from the Archean to the Holocene.

Uses & applications

Used in the glass industry, as an abrasive, in the production of silicon semiconductors, as landscaping stone, and occasionally in jewelry as cabochons or beads.

Geological facts

Milky quartz gets its cloudy appearance from microscopic inclusions of fluids or gas trapped during the crystal's growth. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its white color, extreme hardness (it will scratch glass and steel), and lack of cleavage planes. It is found globally, common in mountain ranges and riverbeds.