mineral

White Quartz (Milky Quartz)

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide - SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Milky white to translucent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified March 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the cooling of silica-rich magma or from hydrothermal veins. While common throughout Earth's history, Milky Quartz often forms in the final stages of magmatic crystallization or through precipitation from hot mineral-rich waters in various environments.

Uses & applications

Used in the gemstone industry for carvings, beads, and metaphysical items. In industry, high-purity quartz is used in electronics, optics, glassmaking, and as an abrasive.

Geological facts

Milky Quartz gets its characteristic white color from microscopic inclusions of fluids (gas or liquid) trapped during the crystal's growth. It is the most common variety of crystalline quartz found on Earth's crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and typical milky opaqueness. It is found globally in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary settings, often in massive vein deposits.

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