mineral
White quartz fragment (likely milky quartz)
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectWhite, opaque to translucent, with a glassy-to-dull luster and irregular conchoidal fracture; Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, trigonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The small piece appears naturally broken or roughly shaped.
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Physical properties
White, opaque to translucent, with a glassy-to-dull luster and irregular conchoidal fracture; Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, trigonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The small piece appears naturally broken or roughly shaped.
Formation & geological history
Likely formed in a hydrothermal vein or as quartz within an igneous or metamorphic rock; quartz is common from Precambrian to modern geological settings. The photograph alone cannot establish its exact age or locality.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in glass, ceramics, electronics, abrasives, and engineered stone; attractive translucent pieces are collected or used decoratively, though this specimen appears low-grade.
Geological facts
Milky color results from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or impurities. Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant and resistant minerals.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness—scratches glass and is not scratched by a steel knife—lack of cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. Common worldwide, especially in veins and granitic or metamorphic terrains.
