mineral

Milky Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to translucent with tan/brown iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: White to translucent with tan/brown iron staining
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified March 29, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in veins or cooling igneous pegmatites. This specimen likely weathered out of a vein and was tumbled by water or glacial action. Quartz is found in rocks from all geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used as a source of silicon for electronics, as an abrasive, in glass manufacturing, and as decorative landscaping stone. Low-grade specimens like this are mostly used for gravel or filler.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. 'Milky' quartz gets its white color from tiny fluid inclusions of gas or liquid trapped during crystal growth.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its ability to scratch glass, lack of cleavage, and waxy/vitreous appearance. Commonly found in riverbeds, mountains, and gardens globally. For collectors, it is a starter mineral found almost everywhere.