mineral
Weathered quartz-rich stone, likely milky quartz
Quartz (SiO₂), possibly a quartz-rich metamorphic or igneous fragment
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectWhite to pale gray, opaque, with a dull-to-glassy luster and irregular fracture; quartz hardness is Mohs 7, with no cleavage and typically hexagonal crystal structure. Dark lines and pits may be iron/manganese staining, inclusions, or surface weathering.
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Physical properties
White to pale gray, opaque, with a dull-to-glassy luster and irregular fracture; quartz hardness is Mohs 7, with no cleavage and typically hexagonal crystal structure. Dark lines and pits may be iron/manganese staining, inclusions, or surface weathering.
Formation & geological history
Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich magma or hydrothermal fluids and also forms in metamorphic veins and quartzite; the specimen’s exact age and host rock cannot be determined from the image. Its rounded shape suggests natural stream or beach abrasion, or deliberate tumbling.
Uses & applications
Quartz is used in glass, ceramics, foundry materials, electronics, abrasives, and construction aggregate; attractive pieces are collected or used decoratively. This small, heavily weathered specimen has little commercial gemstone value.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, producing an electrical charge when mechanically stressed. Milky quartz becomes opaque because of microscopic fluid inclusions and structural defects.
Field identification & locations
Test with a steel file or common glass: quartz should scratch glass and resist a steel blade. Common sources include quartz veins, granitic terrains, metamorphic rocks, river gravels, and beaches worldwide.
