Milky Quartz
white · Quartz family
| Also known as | Quartz (Quartz family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | White, Clear, Pink, Orange |
| Mohs hardness | 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral) |
| Lustre | Vitreous – waxy to dull when massive |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | α-quartz: trigonal β-quartz: hexagonal |
| Transparency | Transparent to nearly opaque |
| Cleavage | none |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Chemical formula | SiO 2 |
| Specific gravity | 2.65; variable 2.59–2.63 in impure varieties |
What is Milky Quartz?
Quartz is a hard mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). Its atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen atom being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO2. Therefore, quartz is classified structurally as a framework silicate mineral and compositionally as an oxide mineral. Quartz is the second most common mineral or mineral group in Earth's lithosphere, comprising about 12% by mass.
How to identify Milky Quartz
- Lustre: Vitreous – waxy to dull when massive.
- Hardness: Mohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral) — hard enough to scratch glass.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: α-quartz: trigonal β-quartz: hexagonal crystal system.
Milky Quartz in different forms
Stones often confused with Milky Quartz
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Milky Quartz?
Milky Quartz is Mohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral) on the hardness scale.
What colour is Milky Quartz?
Milky Quartz is typically white, clear, pink, orange (Colorless, pink, orange, white, green, yellow, blue, purple, dark brown, or black).