Milky quartz is a common variety of quartz distinguished by its cloudy, opaque white appearance caused by tiny fluid inclusions trapped during growth. It is found globally in a wide variety of geologic environments and frequently forms massive veins or large, chunky crystal clusters.
Is this milky quartz?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch milky quartz with a known reference. Milky Quartz sits at Mohs 7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Milky Quartz leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Milky Quartz typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, milky white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Milky Quartz vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside milky quartz
Minerals reported to co-occur with milky quartz. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 2.65 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites, Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $1-20 per specimen depending on size and crystal quality
Where rockhounds find milky quartz
Classic worldwide localities
- Brazil
- USA
- Madagascar
- India
- Alpine regions
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites, hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where milky quartz typically forms. If you start seeing orthoclase, muscovite, biotite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find milky quartz on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
